Hot Car Deaths Can Still Occur Despite Upcoming Cooler Temperatures
We may be starting to cool down in the Ark-La-Tex, but the danger of leaving your child in the car is still present.
I don't have kids, but I am not the kind of person to leave my dog in the car. Not only would he scream bloody murder for all the world to hear, but I just don't feel comfortable doing it in any circumstance. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to my sweet Oliver.
These feelings will continue when I have kids of my own.
That's why I was surprised to hear that hot car deaths can occur all year round, according to Consumer Reports. Their latest findings show that it does not matter if the temperatures outside of the car are cooler than the blazing summers we experience in the south. Temperatures can still rise inside the car causing heatstroke.
What it boils down to, according to Consumer Reports' medical director is that heat affects children differently than adults.
"Temperatures that might seem comfortable for adults can quickly become dangerous for children. If they're left in a car on even a mild day."
This can even pose problems for elderly individuals or those with cognitive problems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 39 children have died in hot cars in 2017 alone. The concern is real and reiterated by the American Academy of Pediatrics.