Cars and heat: A deadly combo

Every year, the word goes out reminding people that children and cars can be a deadly combination, especially in hot weather. And yet, every year 15 to 25 children die of hyperthermia caused in a vehicle.
The first of 17 children killed this year when they were left in hot cars occurred on March 9th in North Carolina. The outside temperature was 81 degrees. The outside temperature in the other cases ranged from 57 to 99 degrees. None of the incidents were in Virginia.
In 2008, two Virginia children died from hyperthermia after being left in a car, one in Herndon and one in Portsmouth. In 2007, two other Virginia children died in the same circumstances; one in Blacksburg and one in Charlottesville.
Since 1998, 413 children have died from hyperthermia while in vehicles. More than half were "forgotten" by the caregiver and one quarter where children playing in an unattended vehicle. Two-thirds of the victims were age 2 or younger.
During warm weather, the inside of a vehicle is a deadly place for any living creature. In less than 10 minutes the temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees over the outside temperature; in 20 minutes - 30 degrees; between 1 and 2 hours a blazing 50 degrees.
The message is clear: do not, for any reason, leave a child or pet inside a parked car - even for a minute, even with the windows down. Persons physically or mentally unable to exit the car on their own should not be left inside a vehicle.
This would include those with a mental or physical handicap making mobility difficult. People with chronic illness or taking medications may be more susceptible to heat and become overheated or not recognize they are in physical distress.
Children in rear car seats or booster seats for their safety are easily overlooked, especially if they are asleep or quiet. Place a stuffed animal in the seat when it is not in use. When placing the child in the seat, put the animal on the front passenger seat as a reminder of the backseat passenger.
When exiting a car, carefully check all seats especially backseats. Look for sleeping children.
Lock parked cars to prevent anyone from getting into the vehicle and becoming trapped. This can also prevent children from crawling into a trunk and becoming locked inside.
Like children, pets are extremely susceptible to death from hyperthermia.
"A dog's temperature is already 102 degrees," explains Dr. John Hayes. Hayes, a retired Greene County veterinarian, is head veterinarian for the Madison-Greene Humane Society. "The animal gets hyperthermia, goes into repertory or cardiac distress and can die in short order. Unless you are going to stay with them or keep the car running with the air conditioner on, don't keep a pet in the car during warm weather."
Hayes reminds pet owners that animals kept outside can also die from the heat if not properly cared for.
"They need to have access to shade and to fresh water," he warns. "We've seen it happen before especially with animals that are staked out and can't move far enough to get out of the sun or don't have water to cool themselves."
When temperatures climb so do the dangers to people and animals. Keep cool this summer by keeping everyone in the family safe.