YWN is aware of at least two incidents in the past two days where parents left their children unattended in a vehicle in the zero-degree weather which is currently in the Tri-State area. One of them was arrested, and the other was not.

At no time during the year should you or others who transport your child leave him alone in a car, not even for a minute. We all lead hectic lives and are busy trying to get everything done in little or no time, but stop and think about what is really important – your child and his safety and well-being, and no matter what, your child must always come first.

Children are even more vulnerable than adults to cold-weather and winter-related injuries. Extreme exposure can cause frostbite or frostnip. When temperatures drop, children need extra attention to stay warm, safe and healthy. Young children are less likely to recognize when they are cold and more likely to lose body heat quickly due to their smaller size.

Because they are less able to regulate their body temperature than adults, children can quickly develop a dangerously low body temperature (ie, become hypothermic). Newborn infants are prone to hypothermia because of their large body surface area, small amount of subcutaneous fat, and decreased ability to shiver. Children and adults respond to cold extremes by shivering, developing “goose bumps”, and experiencing lethargy and a slow heart rate. Eventually the shivering ends, and disorientation and lack of responsiveness occur. Severe hypothermia can also result in arrhythmias, an abnormal beating of the heart.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)