GUEST COLUMN

Be smart — don’t leave your child or pet in a hot car

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Summer is in full swing and so are hot temperatures. Tragically, we are hearing about more and more emergencies where children and pets are left unattended in hot cars.

A toddler in Dallas has become the 21st child to die in a hot car this year in the U.S., according to the national safety advocacy organization KidsAndCars.org. That figure is nearly twice as high as the number of children who died by this time last year, the organization reports. When CNN last published a story on June 9 about hot car deaths, 11 children had died this year by that time.

Whether it’s because a driver forgot a child was inside the vehicle, a kid was able to get into an unlocked car without their parents’ knowledge, or simply a case of bad parenting, within minutes, a child can be in danger if left in a hot car. Let me be clear: It is never OK to leave kids or pets in a car — even with the windows down.

According to KidsAndCars.org, a child's body overheats three to five times faster than an adult body, and pets will struggle more quickly too. Children have died in hot cars when the outside temperature was as low as 60 degrees, as the sun shining through the window turned the car into an oven.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, when outside temperatures are between 80 and 100 degrees, cars parked in direct sunlight can reach internal temperatures of 131 to 170 degrees. Sometimes, outside temperatures in the 60s can cause internal car temperatures to rise well above 110. Even with the window rolled down two inches, this can happen in as little as 15 minutes. For example, on a sunny day that is just 72 degrees, the inside temperature can increase by 30 to 40 degrees in an hour, and 70 percent of this increase occurs during the first 30 minutes.

If anyone’s body temperature exceeds 104 degrees, there’s a risk of having a heat stroke with the possibility of suffering irreversible brain damage.

There are increased health risks for small children. There is no safe amount of time to leave children alone in a car, as kids are more susceptible and at higher risk for heat-related illness and injury than adults. An infant’s body temperature rises three times faster than an adult’s. Their bodies make more heat relative to their size, and their ability to cool through sweating is not as developed as adults.

As a result, just a few minutes can be extremely dangerous — even fatal — for a small child. So, as you park your car in the heat this summer, be safe and follow these tips.


•Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle.
•Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by things like your cell phone when leaving the car or doing errands.
•If you see a child unattended in a hot vehicle, call for help.
•Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading — and don’t overlook sleeping babies.
•Always lock your car and ensure your children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices.
•If a child is missing, always check the pool first, then the car including the trunk.
•Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play or hiding area.
•Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat and when the child is put in the seat, place the animal in the front with the driver, or place your purse or briefcase in the back seat, as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
•Make “look before you leave” a routine whenever you get out of the car.
•Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up for school.

What to do in a heat emergency

As stated on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s web site, if you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately, and if they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible.

First, get the person out of the hot environment. Have them lie down in a cool place. Raise the person’s feet about 12 inches. Maintain their breathing and circulation, and loosen any restrictive clothing. Next, apply cool, wet cloths (or cool water directly) to the person’s skin and use a fan to lower body temperature. Place cold compresses on the person’s neck, groin, and armpits.

If alert, give them beverages to sip (such as Gatorade), or make a salted drink by adding a teaspoon of salt per quart of water; cool water will do if salt beverages are not available. If the person does not improve, starts having seizures, or loses consciousness, call 911 and give first aid as needed.

Do not underestimate the seriousness of heat illness, especially if the person is a child, elderly, or injured. If the person is unconscious or vomiting, do not give them anything to drink or put anything in their mouth. Don’t give medications that are used to treat fever such as Aspirin or Tylenol — they will not help, and may be harmful. Liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine will interfere with the body’s ability to control its internal temperature.

Even long, hot afternoons at the beach can pose problems if warning signs are ignored. With prompt treatment, most people recover completely from heat-related illness. However, heat stroke can be deadly if not properly managed. By reducing excessive exposure to high temperatures and taking other precautionary steps, most heat-related illnesses can be avoided.

Sam Pinto is a career firefighter, paramedic, nationally certified fire instructor, and certified fire and life safety educator. He can be reached at SPinto@iaff287.org.