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Suite 800, City Hall East, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213-978-8340 Fax: 213-978-2093
http://www.cityofla.org/atty/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Frank Mateljan
August 12, 2004
(213) 978-8340
City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Sheriff Lee Baca Launch Public
Awareness Campaign Against Child Neglect "Not Even for A Minute" Campaign Highlights Risks and Criminal Consequences of Leaving Children Unattended in Vehicles During Hot Summer Months
LOS ANGELES City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo today joined Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, Sheriff Lee Baca and representatives from the United Chambers of Commerce, Central City Association, Harbor/Gateway Chamber of Commerce and the Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce to launch a public awareness campaign to highlight the serious health dangers and criminal consequences of leaving children unattended in vehicles during hot summer months.
"Every summer, there is a tragic story about a child being left in a vehicle and suffering from heat stroke due to rapidly rising temperatures," said Delgadillo. "The Not Even For a Minute Campaign is designed to send up a red flag to all parents to keep their children safe and to prevent a tragedy before it is too late."
In 2003, 42 deaths of infants and children were documented in the United States from heatstroke after being left in hot cars, trucks or vans. Heatstroke is caused when the core body temperature of an individual reaches 104 degrees. The core temperature of a child can rise three to five times faster than an adult due to smaller size.
A recent study showed that the temperature of an enclosed vehicle can rise up to 20 degrees in 10 minutes and as much as 30 degrees in 20 minutes. When temperatures inside a vehicle exceed 88 degrees, potentially lethal temperatures can be reached in less than 20 minutes.
Since January 2002, "Kaitlyn's Law" has made it a citeable offense to leave a child under the age of six unattended in a vehicle without supervision of someone at least 12 years of age. Legislation recently introduced by Los Angeles City Councilmember Greig Smith would raise the penalties on the citation from $100 to $1,000 per offense. In addition, the City Attorney's Office may also file child endangerment charges against individuals who leave children in a car if the child's health is or may be endangered.
This public awareness campaign is being conducted in conjunction with Not Even for a Minute, a collaborative project sponsored by the Los Angeles County Medical Association Alliance and the Glendale Sunrise Rotary Club. Organizers have developed posters, brochures, car decals and public service announcements to educate the public on the dangers of leaving a child unattended in or around a vehicle.
Not Even for a Minute sponsors have granted the County and City of Los Angeles permission to reproduce their poster for this campaign and will be donating brochures and car decals for the awareness campaign. Additional information about Not Even for a Minute can be found at www.notevenforaminute.org.
