Michael Israel — Turning Back-Seat Checks into a Life-Saving Habit

In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Cleverely operations lead Michael Israel to unpack the hidden reason babies and complex kids are still left in hot cars—and the 15-second fix that turns back-seat checks into second nature.

Michael shares:

• A dad’s near-miss that sparked a movement. One foggy commuter morning, a tech-savvy father forgot his son was still riding behind him. The memory lapse ended safely—but exposed a blind spot that kills dozens of U S children every summer.
• Why no one is “too careful.” Your brain can only juggle 7–8 data points at once; add work calls, grocery lists, or medical-equipment prep and any parent’s memory buffer overflows.
• Seat-belt déjà vu. How Cleverely’s $30 plug-in device swaps high-priced sensors for randomized voice prompts—training you to glance at the back seat the same way the 1970s trained us to click a belt.
• The number you never hear: 65,000 U S near-miss rescues a year—cases that don’t make national stats but leave lasting trauma.
• Easy wins for busy families. One-minute install, no app, no Wi-Fi, plus bulk programs for NICUs, CP clinics, and respite-care fleets so every caregiver hears the reminder.

Quote to tape on the fridge:
“Every time you exit, eyes to the back seat—even when the seat is supposed to be empty. That habit is the real safety device.”

Whether you’re hauling orthotics, wheelchairs, or a week’s worth of meds, Michael’s message is simple: habitualize the glance, and hot-car headlines fade into history.

👤 About Michael Israel

A former tech-startup strategist turned safety advocate, Michael leads U S partnerships for Cleverely, an Australian-born company dedicated to ending pediatric hot-car deaths through habit-building reminders.

Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions

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💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]

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