Never leave children or pets alone in hot cars! Even for a
minute...
Summer is in full swing in the Valley and it is never too early or too
late to talk about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars. So far
this year, 20 children have died in hot cars across the country. The
inside of a car can reach life-threatening temperatures when outside
temperatures are as low at 70 degrees. For the Valley, that means
children are at risk throughout the year. In addition, children's
thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as adults and their body
temperatures warm 3 to 5 times faster than adults. A car parked in
direct sunlight during a 100 degree day, which is typical for our area, can
reach temperatures up to 170 degrees within 30 minutes.
Please remember to always check the back seat for children and
follow these tips to help prevent your child from being left in a hot car:
- Never leave a child in the car, running or not
- Always take the child into the house first, followed by packages or
groceries
- Leave an item such a purse or briefcase in the back seat where the
children are buckled in
- Talk with childcare and family members about the dangers of being
forgotten in hot cars
- If there is a change in routine, call to follow up with care givers
- Prevent children from playing in parked cars by locking the doors
and warning them of the dangers
For more information please contact Mesa Fire Department 480-644-2101
Additional Safety Resources:
Mesa Fire
Department Fire and Life Safety Education
City of Mesa Transportation
Cardon Childrens Medical Center