12-year-old Invents Device That Helps Prevent Hot Car Deaths
A 12-year-old girl has invented a device that will prevent hot car deaths. Lydia Denton wanted to do something about babies that were dying from being left in hot cars. She created a device that would work with a pressure pad under the car seat cover, which can sense weight over 5 pounds. When a baby is in the seat, the system starts itself up and monitors the temperature. Once the temperature reaches 102 degrees, the seat sets off an alarm and displays a warning on the LCD monitor. Parents receive a text on their phone. If there is no response within 60 seconds, the device will contact 911 with a GPS locator. Then the locator sends the address to emergency services.
Lydia’s invention won CITGO’s Fueling Education Student Challenge. She received a $20,000 prize which Denton plans to save for college. She did however take out $100 for a shopping trip. Lydia says she has other inventions swimming around in her head, namely something to help those with allergies before they get out of hand and cause medical emergencies.
