Prevention of Heat Related Vehicle Fatalities

IET 120 301

Fall 2014

Background of the Problem

Every year families suffer tragic, yet preventable, losses. Between the years 1998 and 2009, an
average of 37 children each year died due to vehicle related hyperthermia. 54% of those cases
involved the caregiver simply forgetting the child. However 27% were the result of the
caregiver intentionally leaving the child unattended. (Andrew Grundstein, 2010) Between the
years of 2010 and 2013, the average increased to 39. (KidsAndCars.org, 2014) Those averages
give us a total of 600 preventable deaths.
The website Parents Central report the following facts about child heatstroke in cars:
Child heatstroke in cars can lead to:
o Severe injury or death
o Being arrested and jailed
Children overheat up to five times faster than adults.
o In 10 minutes, a cars temperature can rise over 20 degrees.
o Even at an outside temperature of 60 degrees, your cars inside temperature can reach
110 degrees.
o A child dies when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.
(U.S. Department of Transportation, n.d.)

Problem and Goal Statement

With a busy lifestyle and the stresses of daily life, even the smallest distraction can cause us to
forget something simple. Even the best parents can have a slip of the memory. Unfortunately,
a memory slip as a guardian can be deadly for children. Every year, children die from being left
unattended in overheated vehicles. These deaths leave families devastated and broken.
However, these deaths are also avoidable.
With the right combination of already existing technologies, we will be able to prevent most, if
not all, of those deaths.

Problem Solving Approach

Define the Problem
Sean Hunt

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Prevention of Heat Related Vehicle Fatalities

IET 120 301

Fall 2014

Over the summer months local and national news programs repetitively remind us of the
dangers of leaving children alone in hot cars. Websites such as WebMD.com, KidsAndCars.org
and SafeCar.gov remind us of these dangers. But, we have nothing at the vehicle itself to
remind us. We as human beings can be easily distracted and sometimes have short memories.
We need something to remind us make sure we dont leave the kids in a hot car.

Brainstorm, Research and Ideas

One idea that was considered was to produce a mated set of Bluetooth units. One to attach to
the child in some manner, and one to be held or worn by the guardian. When the units loose
contact with one another, an alarm is sounded.
Another idea was to produce a key fob with a reminder button and alarm. When a person gets
into a vehicle with a child, they push the reminder button. When the fob loses contact with the
vehicle, the alarm goes off, reminding them to get the child.
Also, there was an idea to use technologies already available in vehicles, such as seat sensors
used with airbags and thermometers, to work together to remind parents that their kids are
with them.

Criteria and Constraints

The reminder must meet the following criteria and constraints:

Easy to use.
Easy to remember to use.
Powered in a way that reduces or eliminates drained battery problems.
Not ignorable.
Inexpensive.

During research, it was discovered that emergency services should be contacted if you discover
a child left alone in a vehicle. (U.S. Department of Transportation, n.d.) (Mann, 2011)
(KidsAndCars.org, 2012) So the additional criteria was added:
Must draw attention to the vehicle.

Sean Hunt

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Prevention of Heat Related Vehicle Fatalities

IET 120 301

Fall 2014

Develop Designs
The Idea is to use existing technology in vehicles to set up a reminder system. All vehicles
produced for sale within the United States are currently equipped with what is known as
advanced frontal air bags. This air bag system automatically determines if and with what force
the front driver and passenger airbags inflate. The system makes the decision based on sensor
inputs that typically detect occupant size, seat position, seat belt use and severity of the
collision. Also, many cars have thermometers that read the cabin temperature inside the
vehicle. This idea is to use occupant size sensors in all of the seats, front and back. The data
gathered from these sensors would allow the vehicle to know if there is a child sized person in
any of the seats. The vehicles computer system would use that data along with data gathered
from the driver seat to determine if a child has been left alone inside the vehicle. However, the
system may not be necessary in all weather conditions. Data is then gathered from the
vehicles cabin thermometer. The vehicle is programmed with a temperature range, for
example 40 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Anytime the internal temperature of the vehicle is above
or below that range, the alarm system is activated. When triggered, the vehicle would send a
signal to the key fob, which would emit an alarm to remind the parent of their child.
Additionally, once the internal temperature of the vehicle reaches 75 degrees, the vehicles
theft alarm is triggered. However, the theft alarm does not sound in the normal way. It uses
the Morse code distress signal of S.O.S. (. . . _ _ _ . . .). This signal would alert bystanders or
police officers of the presence of a child in the car. Once again, the control can only be
deactivated from within the car.

Evaluation and Consequences

The integrated system is the most effective idea that was proposed to achieve the overall goal
of reducing heat related vehicle fatalities.
However, there is one concern remaining. One of the criteria is to draw attention to the
vehicle. This immediately raises a concern. When the vehicle sounds the S.O.S. signal,
everyone in the area will know that child has been left in a vehicle. The idea is that they can
help the child or contact someone who can. The problem is that the alarm may attract
someone that has other ideas than rescuing a child. The National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children reported that in 2013, there were 462,567 entries for missing children under
the age of 18 in the FBIs National Crime Information Center (NCIC) (National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children, 2014) It is for this reason, that the key fob alarm must sound before
the S.O.S. is signaled by the vehicle.
Sean Hunt

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Prevention of Heat Related Vehicle Fatalities

IET 120 301

Fall 2014

Refinements
One possible refinement is programming the ventilation fan to turn on and draw in outside air
when the S.O.S. is sounded. Another possible refinement provides emergency personnel a
universal signal transmitter that would allow them to unlock a vehicle when the S.O.S. signal is
sounding. Both of these refinements would add additional cost to the project but, may aid in
life saving efforts.

Information Collected
Andrew Grundstein, J. D. (2010). Quantifying The Heat Related Hazard For Children In Motor Vehicles.
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 1183-1191.
John N. Booth III, G. G. (2010). Hyperthermia deaths among children in parked vehicles: an analysis of
231 fatalities in the United States, 19992007. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 99105.
KidsAndCars.org. (2012, August 15). Child Vehicular Heat Stroke Summary. Retrieved September 20,
2014, from KidsAndCars.org: http://www.kidsandcars.org/userfiles/dangers/heat-stroke-factsheet.pdf
KidsAndCars.org. (2014). Heat Stroke. Retrieved September 15, 2014, from KidsAndCars.org:
http://www.kidsandcars.org/heatstroke.html
Mann, D. (2011, August 4). Danger: Kids Left in Hot Cars. Retrieved September 15, 2014, from
WebMD.com: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/hot-cars-and-child-deathprevention
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (2014). Key Facts. Retrieved September 20, 2014,
from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: http://www.missingkids.com/KeyFacts
U.S. Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Advanced Frontal Air Bags. Retrieved September 20, 2014,
from Safecar.gov:
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Air+Bags/Advanced+Frontal+Air+Bags#1
U.S. Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Heatstroke. (Safecar.gov, Producer) Retrieved September 20,
2014, from Parents Central: http://www.safercar.gov/parents/heatstroke.htm

Sean Hunt

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Prevention of Heat Related Vehicle Fatalities

IET 120 301

Fall 2014

Development of Alternative Solutions

The first idea was the mated Bluetooth set. It would consist of a lightweight device clipped to
the childs clothing. The parent would have a key fob to put on their cars key ring. Both units
are equipped with basic Bluetooth capabilities. When the parent puts the device onto the
childs clothing, they activate the connection with the key fob. After activation, if the
connection is lost, an alarm sounds on the key fob. The alarm will can only be deactivated by a
control on the unit attached to the child.
The second idea was to link the key fob with the vehicle using a Bluetooth or similar
connection. The parent would activate the connection when they put the child in the car. After
that, if the connection is lost (which would be caused by the units being too far apart), an alarm
sounds on the key fob. If the connection is not reestablished within 2-3 minutes, the cars theft
alarm system is activated, attracting attention to the vehicle. However, the theft alarm does
not sound in the normal way. It uses the Morse code distress signal of S.O.S. (. . . _ _ _ . . .).
This signal would alert bystanders or police officers of the presence of a child in the car. Similar
to the first idea, the alarm cannot be deactivated with the key fob. Deactivation can only be
performed by a control inside the vehicle.

Selection of Best Solution

The first solution meets some of the established criteria, but not all. It is most likely the least
costly to produce. Also, it is easy to use. However it is not necessarily easy to remember to
use. Forgetting to use this reminder system is probably easier than forgetting the child in the
first place. Therefore, it is not going to be an effective life saving device. In addition, the
system requires a battery in each component, doubling the likely hood of battery failure. Also,
there is no way to know when the battery has died. So a person may use the item not knowing
it is not operating. This situation may actually result in an increased rate of heat related vehicle
fatalities. If these problems were not enough, the system has no way of drawing attention to
the vehicle. All things considered this system is not going to be an effective life saving device.
The second idea is similar to the first idea in operation and unfortunately failures. While the
system is easy to use. It is not easy to remember to use. The system uses only the batteries in
the vehicle and key fob. The odds of charge failure are greatly reduced in this system. Most
people will realize when the battery in their cars key fob has died. While the system meets
most of the criteria, it still fails in the memory area. A failure in remembering to use the device
may result in the same outcome as forgetting the child.
Sean Hunt

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Prevention of Heat Related Vehicle Fatalities

IET 120 301

Fall 2014

The third idea almost meets all of the criteria. Because it is an automatic system, ease of use
and remembering to use it, arent even questions. This system is also powered by the batteries
that are already being used with the vehicle and key fob. Like the first two ideas, the system is
design to make ignoring almost impossible. And, the S.O.S. signal will certainly draw attention
to the vehicle. When considering the criteria, the only failure is the cost. A system like this will
certainly raise the price of the vehicle, but hopefully only a little.

Sean Hunt

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