I’m a single parent and I know that under normal circumstances it is never OK to leave your child alone in a car. But I was wondering, now with the threat of coronavirus, is it OK for my child to wait in the car while I run into the pharmacy or grocery store to pick up a few things?

While leaving your child in the car alone might seem like an option during these challenging times, I promise, it is not worth the risk. Cars can heat up to dangerous levels in just a short amount of time, even on mild, sunny days – and cracking a window doesn’t help. Plus, you can get distracted or delayed in the store, one of the scenarios that has led to too many unintentional tragedies. We don’t want to see this happen to your family.

This is a time to consider all your options. Can someone else supervise your child at home while you run to the store? Getting food or medicine delivered to your door is now more available than ever since businesses are trying to limit the number of people in their stores. They are using their employees to provide free or low-cost delivery to their customers. Take advantage of a drive through, use the free delivery service, ask a friend or neighbor who is going to the store to shop for you, or order your food over the internet or phone and do curbside pickup.

We know this is a difficult situation. That’s why it’s more important than ever to remember the solutions that prevent injuries and save lives.

This blog post originally appeared on Safe Kids Worldwide.

ABOUT THE EXPERT

Safe Kids Worldwide Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries.

Subscribe to our newsletter and get free parenting tips delivered to your inbox every week!

Related Content

mother and daughter driving
child in wheelchair getting into car
teenage girl holding car keys
G6PD vial
group of kids texting
mother comforting son
mother comforting sad child
illustration of car with presents in snow
pumkins wearing masks
little girl clinging to her dad
group of boys sitting on a tree branch
father and kids at airport
Little girl lying on floor
mom breastfeeding baby
boys with masks in playground
Father and toddler wearing masks
father putting mask on daughter
family hiking in the woods
Children camping in a tent in the backyard

0 replies

Leave a Comment

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.