SAN ANTONIO – If you come across a pet or a child alone in a vehicle, it’s important to act fast.
“Children’s bodies just cannot acclimate to extreme temperatures the way that adults can, unfortunately, it can happen so fast for our kids,” said Jennifer Northway, a representative for University Health System. “When we see a child or a pet locked in a vehicle and they are in distress, we need to call 911 immediately.”
Important heatstroke tips:
- A car can heat up 19 degrees within 10 minutes; and cracking a window doesn’t help.
- A child’s body temperature can rise five times faster than an adult’s.
- Heatstroke tragedies often happen when someone’s daily routine is changed or disrupted.
- Never leave your child alone in a car, not even during a quick trip to the store. Keep car doors and trunks locked and keep key fobs out of reach, so kids can’t climb into cars on their own.
Heatstroke Safety Tips by Kiersten Ehr on Scribd
Related:
Important summer safety tips to help keep kids safe
KSAT Community operates in partnership with University Health System, Energy Transfer and Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union.