Child Safety Fair Coming to Northport in June

As temperatures continue to rise across West Alabama, Safe Kids Tuscaloosa is reminding parents and caregivers about the dangers children face when left inside hot vehicles, even for just a few minutes.

During a recent interview on The Big Dawg DreDay Show in the Morning with Comedian LP, Charlene Wilkinson with Safe Kids Tuscaloosa said the organization continues working to reduce the number of children left alone in cars through education and community outreach.

“We can reduce that number by simply acting,” Wilkinson said while discussing hot car awareness efforts.

Wilkinson said Safe Kids Tuscaloosa regularly attends community events to educate families about child safety, including providing information and quizzes to help parents better understand safety risks involving children and vehicles.

One of the biggest reminders from the organization is to “look before you lock.”

“They want to make sure that they look before they lock,” Wilkinson said. “In other words, check the backseat when you get out before you lock the car.”

Wilkinson also stressed that children should never be left alone in a vehicle, especially during Alabama’s summer heat.

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“You do not want to leave the child in the car alone, even just for a few minutes,” Wilkinson said. “Some people will run into the post office, run into the grocery store, convenience store, only going to be in there a couple of minutes, but once you get in there, it’s no guarantee you’re only going to be in there for that short period of time.”

She added that a child’s body temperature can rise much faster than an adult’s.

Safe Kids Tuscaloosa is also preparing for its annual Safe Kids Safety Fair, happening June 13 at Northport City Hall.

According to Wilkinson, the event will focus on several important topics involving child safety, including home safety, roadway safety, bicycle and scooter safety, pool safety, and making sure children stay safe both inside and outside of vehicles.

“Along with just making sure kids are safe and not being left in hot cars, we wanna make sure that children are safe around water,” Wilkinson said.

Families across West Alabama are encouraged to attend the event and learn more about ways to help keep children safe during the busy summer months.