12-Year-Old Invents Device That Prevents Babies From Dying in Hot Cars, Wins $20,000 Competition

Courtesy of Covey Denton

Twelve-year-old Lydia Denton is advanced beyond her age when it comes to making an impact in the world.

The young lady, hailing from Wilson, North Carolina, has already invented a device that might save babies from dying in hot cars.

The invention is a car seat that senses when the baby is getting too hot and alerts the parent through a smartphone app.

And the device has already proven to be a winner. Lydia entered her invention into CITGO’s Fueling Education Student Challenge and won first place, garnering a prize of $20,000.

Not bad for a 12-year-old.

Courtesy of Covey Denton

Courtesy of Covey Denton

Lydia first thought of the idea when she heard in the news that children were dying in hot cars.

“I did some research and saw that it happened a lot and that it wasn’t just neglectful parents,” she told People. “I got really upset and wanted to try and help.”

After studying the problem, Lydia created “Beat The Heat Car Seat.” The device connects to child car seats; it activates through a pressure sensor when a child over 5 pounds (approx. 2 kg)  is sitting, and then it monitors the baby’s temperature.