May 1, 2023 is National Heatstroke Prevention Day. With summer upon us, it is important to prepare for the heat that the Florida sun provides us. The state of Florida has the second highest total number of heat related vehicle deaths of children with 102 based on statistics from 1998-2022. More than half of vehicular heatstroke cases were because an adult forgot about a child, according to NoHeatstroke.org. Additionally, every year pets suffer and die when their guardians make the mistake of leaving them unattended in a parked vehicle to “run in for just a minute” at the local store. The Lady Lake Police Department is committed to informing and educating parents and pet owners on the dangers of leaving children and pets unattended in a vehicle and taking precautions to help prevent these tragic situations.
Leaving a child or a pet in a hot car even for a short period of time can be dangerous, even with the windows cracked. A vehicle’s glass transparency allows for the sun’s rays to heat up the inside essentially creating a vacuum of heat. Within minutes a car that was just being cooled can experience a spike in temperature. On a sunny day, when temperatures are 80 degrees outside, the inside temperature of a vehicle can rise to 99 degrees in 10 minutes and soar up to 114 degrees in 30 minutes. At 90 degrees outside, the inside temperature of a vehicle can rise to 109 degrees in 10 minutes and soar up to 124 degrees in 30 minutes.
A child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult. When a core body temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit is reached, internal organs begin to shut down leading to death.
Dogs and cats can’t sweat like humans, so they pant to lower their body temperature. If they’re inside a car, recycling very hot air, panting gives no relief, and heat stroke can happen quickly.
I encourage you to take these safety precautions to help avoid these preventable tragedies:
- Make “look before you leave” a routine every time you park. Check the vehicle to make sure that there are no passengers inside. Young children can sneak into the vehicle to play or even hide thinking they are having “fun” with you.
- If you are driving a child, put something you need in the back seat so you will need to open the back door. Items may include a cellphone, handbag, employee badges, or any other item you would need at your destination.
- Keep a stuffed animal in the child’s car seat. Place it on the front passenger seat as a reminder that the child is buckled in their car seat.
- Ask your babysitter or childcare provider to call you if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled.
What to do if you find a pet confined to a vehicle:
- Take the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate number and notify your local Animal Control or Police Department.
- Once removed from the vehicle, provide water to drink and if possible, immerse in cool water for up to two minutes to gradually lower the body temperature.
- Watch for signs and symptoms of heatstroke such as restlessness, thick saliva, heavy panting, glazed eyes, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, dizziness, seizure, and lack of coordination. If a dog shows any of these symptoms remove it from the heat and transport to a veterinarian immediately.
Practice safety awareness and follow these precautions this summer season with your children and your pets to prevent a vehicle heat-related tragedy from happening to your family. Stay safe out there during our hot and humid summer!
