Governor Nathan Deal, First Lady Sandra Deal, and State Agencies Warn of the Dangers of
Leaving Children Unattended In Vehicles
In a news conference today Governor Nathan Deal, First Lady Sandra Deal, and leaders of several state agencies called for families and caregivers of children to have heightened awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. Officials hope the news conference conducted at Liberty Plaza at the State Capitol, which included a demonstration of how quickly temperatures rise in a closed vehicle, will help prevent children’s heatstroke deaths this summer.
“During our state’s hot summer months, there is a higher risk of serious injury or death as a result of a child being left alone inside a vehicle,” said Gov. Deal. “Since 2010, seven children in Georgia have died due to vehicular heatstroke. I ask that all Georgians join me in preventing future loss of life by being aware of your surroundings and never leaving a child in a car, even for just a minute. Lives can be saved if we take the time to Look Again.”
“We as parents and grandparents work hard to keep our children safe and out of harm’s way,” said Mrs. Deal. “By increasing awareness and reminding your family and friends to Look Again, together we can prevent future tragedies here in Georgia.”
Amy M. Jacobs, Commissioner of Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), said over 370,000 children in Georgia are cared for daily by approximately 5,300 child care providers most of whom regularly transport children to and from home, after school to the child care center, and on field trips. “We receive calls about incidents where children are left in vehicles from a few minutes to several hours, and we investigate each incident,” Jacobs explained. “According to our records, in FY2013, 17 children were left in vehicles by child care providers; 18 in FY2014; and 4 in 2015. While, thankfully, we have not seen any heat stroke related deaths in child care centers since 2011, these dangerous close calls are completely unacceptable. Consequently, safely transporting children will remain a focus for our agency.”
Jacobs said “Look Again” is a message to anyone caring for a child ‒ child care programs, teachers, parents, and grandparents ‒ to always account for the children in their care as they drive them from place to place. “When you arrive at your destination, check the front and back of your car, and after you’ve looked, just to be sure, look again. There is absolutely no reason for a child to suffer or die in these conditions,” she stressed.
State officials hope the public will help distribute a new “Look Again” video to family and friends using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. The video has been posted to You Tube at and to DECAL’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Officials also ask the public to be their eyes and ears in the community, and if they see a child left alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately; emergency personnel are trained to respond.
Agencies participating in the news conference included DECAL; Georgia Department of Public Health; Georgia Department of Human Services; Georgia Department of Public Safety; Georgia State Patrol; Governor’s Office of Highway Safety; Georgia Department of Transportation; Governor’s Office for Children and Families; and the First Lady’s Children’s Cabinet. Supporting partners included Safe Kids Georgia, Emory Center for Injury Control, Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Georgia Child Care Association (GCCA), Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, and Voices for Georgia’s Children.
About Bright from the Start
Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program, licenses child care centers and home-based child care, administers Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program, federal nutrition programs, and manages voluntary quality enhancement programs.
The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of child care, and works collaboratively with Georgia child care resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education. For more information, go to www.decal.ga.gov.
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