With the onset of summer, the Frederick Police Department would like to highlight the dangers of leaving children alone in hot cars. Some risks of leaving children alone in cars are:
- In 10 minutes, a car can heat up to 20° over the existing temperature
- Cracking a window does very little to keep the car cool
- With temperatures in the 60’s, your car can heat up to well above 110°
- On an 80° day, a car can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes
- A child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult’s
- Heatstroke can happen when the temperature is as low as 57° outside
- A child dies when their temperature reaches 107°
The Frederick Police Department would like to provide prevention tips to avoid heatstroke in children:
- Never leave a child alone in a car
- Make it a habit to look in the backseat EVERY time you exit the car
- Don’t let your children play in an unattended vehicle
- Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open
- Become vigilant about looking in the vehicle before locking the door, always look in the front and back before walking away
Warning signs of heatstroke include: red, hot, and moist or dry skin, no sweating, a strong rapid pulse or slow weak pulse, nausea, confusion or acting strangely. If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately.