DON'T TAKE THE CHANCE!
by Lisa Cline
15 kids have died already this year in unattended cars due to heat stroke. Fifteen.
These tragedies occur when parents or caregivers leave children alone, strapped into their carseats, to "quickly" run into a store, or to pick up another child at school.
Or they forgot to drop off a child sleeping in the backseat at daycare before going to work.
Little lives are so fragile. Children can overheat within minutes on a 72-degree day. That's five times faster than adults. "Cracking the windows" doesn't help.
Education is key. Learn what you need to know about kids, cars and heat stroke — there's a lot of helpful information at safekids.org/nlyca. One tip is to leave your briefcase or purse in the backseat on the floor by your child.
If this article is all you ever read about the subject, share it with your spouse, parents, babysitter, daycare…anyone who drives your children.
I put up one of these posters at my son's nursery school. (Download your own at: www.safekids.org/safety-basics/daycareposter). And I linger or stall my own departure when I see a parent leave a child in the car. I just can't drive away until I see the driver quickly return.
It won't bring those innocent 15 back, but it may help prevent a number 16.
Lisa Cline is a writer at Salter-Mitchell in Alexandria, VA, where one of her primary clients is SAFE KIDS USA.
KEEP YOUR CHILDREN (AND ELDERLY) SAFE IN THE HEAT!
Summer is here and it's hot...really hot! The very young and very old are the most vulnerable to heat and humidity.
High temperatures can cause brain or internal organ damage in young children. If parents return to a hot car and find the child seems to be asleep, do NOT assume the child is asleep -- it could be heat exaustion. Remove the child from the car and dial 911 if he or she is unresponsive.
Hot Weather Musts for Kids!
- Don't leave kids unattended in a car.
- Children dehydrate faster than adults. Encourage them to drink plenty of water.
- Know signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion causes heavy perspiration, dizziness, weakness and nausea. Heat stroke has similar symptoms but without perspiration. Treat it with rest, drinks of cool water every ten minutes and apply cool, wet cloths.
- Seek medical help if symptoms don't improve or become more severe.
HELP KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE AND HEALTHY DURING SUMMER HEAT: Tips from the Pennsylvanis SPCA
During the hot weather, pet owners need to take a few extra precautions with their animals to keep them from safe and healthy.
“Every year during the hot months, our Humane Law Enforcement Department receives numerous calls about animals being left outside without adequate shelter or water or being left in hot cars all alone,” said Susan Cosby, CEO of the Pennsylvania SPCA. “One of our goals is to educate pet owners on how to keep their animals safe, especially in extreme weather conditions.”
Heatstroke can kill both dogs and cats. Symptoms of over-heating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Pet owners should take extra precautions with elderly or overweight pets.
The Pennsylvania SPCA offers these hot weather tips:
- If your pet spends time outside or in the yard, make sure they some shade to get out of the sun. Make sure they have lots of fresh clear water shaded from the direct sun. Water bowls sitting in the sun can get very hot creating a scalding bowl of water.
- Never leave a pet in a car alone, even with the windows down a crack. Even on cooler days, a car can become a furnace very quickly.
- Consider getting an inexpensive plastic kiddie pool for your dog to cool down in post- outdoor exercise. Some dogs also like to play in sprinklers.
- If you have a swimming pool, do not leave your dog unattended in the pool area. Not all dogs can swim – they can drown if they fall into the water. They can also get sick from drinking chlorinated pool water.
- Be sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Parvovirus, an illness that flourishes in hot weather, can be fatal to dogs that have not received their vaccinations. Also, be sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are current. During the summer months, pets often spend more time outdoors, and the chances of encounters with wildlife (possible rabies carriers) increase.
