Editorial: Baby-seat alarms are necessary

Friday, Aug. 1, 2003 | 9:14 a.m.

On the issue of children being left alone in cars by forgetful adults, we share the frustration expressed by Robert Stauffer and Kelsey Hand. Stauffer, 18, three years ago designed an alarm that activates when a child is left in a car seat. The design took first place in a statewide engineering competition at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. And two years ago, Hand, along with fellow Hyde Park Middle School students Athena Pisanell and Rachell Taylor, also designed an alarm for automobile child seats. Their design, which they called the "Baby Beeper," made it to the finals of a national science competition.

"It's frustrating knowing you have an idea that could have saved some of these kids," Stauffer told Sun reporter Emily Richmond, referring to two babies that have died from heat exposure this summer in Las Vegas after having been accidentally left alone in cars. And Hand said, "It bothers me that we have a way to save lives and we're not doing it yet."

If teenagers can design alarms that impress judges enough to win top awards at school competitions, why can't automobile manufacturers offer baby alarms as an option? Given the tragic statistics associated with children left in cars, the auto industry should be addressing this need.

A Missouri-based organization, Kids In Cars (kidsincars.org), reports that so far this year, as of July 17, 26 children nationwide have died from heat exposure after being left alone in cars. The organization formed in 1998 after a tragedy involving kids left alone in a van. Since that year, its national statistics show 1,891 incidents involving 2,408 children -- and 508 of those children died. Of those 508 children, 186 died from heat exposure.

Cars today sound shrill warnings if you leave your lights on, but remain silent if your baby is left behind. If you can be spared a dead battery, you can certainly be spared a dead baby.