In an effort to shield children from the perilous heat of Tennessee's summer, state officials have endorsed the 'Baby in the Back' hangtag program, which provides free reminders to drivers to double-check their back seats for little ones. Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, teamed with State Rep. Scott Cepicky, the health and safety departments, and AAA, implores caregivers to use these lifesaving tools, as the Tennessee Department of Safety reports.
Heatstroke, an ever-present threat to unattended children in vehicles, catalyzes the 'Baby in the Back' initiative as a visual cue for parents, which according to Secretary Hargett, and this effort is joined by the Department of Health, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security's Highway Safety Office and AAA in the quest to forefend vehicular tragedies State Rep. Cepicky, inspired by a disabled veteran's car placard, relayed his brainchild to Secretary Hargett, and since then, close to 600,000 Tennesseans have obtained the free hangtags, as Secretary Hargett recounted his appreciation for Rep. Cepicky's idea and the collective effort to boost child safety in a statement obtained by the Tennessee Department of Safety.
Statistics depict a grim reality: one child succumbs to heatstroke in a car every ten days on average, largely because a caregiver has overlooked their presence in the vehicle, Tennessee Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado explained that the hangtag's simplicity belies its vital role in ensuring the safe journey of our youngest passengers, as he spoke on the critical need for such reminders "No distraction is worth a life when we can make sure every child gets home safely," he told the Tennessee Department of Safety.
The hangtags serve a dual purpose, jogging the memory of those behind the wheel, as well as urging bystanders to be vigilant, a necessary measure when car interiors can rocket to 140 degrees under the summer sun and thus, Tennessee's Highway Safety Office Deputy Director Jason Ivey highlights that leaving children in vehicles without supervision is not only dangerous, but also illegal in the state, he further emphasized the hangtags' importance in preventing a swift and tragic escalation of events related to heat exposure "When a child is left in a car accidentally or you think it’s just a few minutes, it is a situation that can quickly turn into a tragedy," Ivey said according to a statement from the Tennessee Department of Safety.
With increased travel during the warmer months and regular distractions in parents' lives, these hangtags may just tip the balance in favor of safety and awareness. The hangtags can be requested online, available at health departments, Driver Services Centers, Highway Patrol District Headquarters, upcoming Tennessee Highway Safety Office events, and local Tennessee AAA branches, as explained by the Tennessee Department of Safety. AAA’s TN Public Affairs Director, Stephanie Milani, reiterates the organization's commitment to awareness, deeming the hangtags a small, but effective reminder to never underestimate the rapid onset of danger in a heated car.
