HYPERTHERMIA IN CHILDREN LEFT IN VEHICLES

Hyperthermia in children left in vehicles
Laredo, TX, February 26, 2007: As warmer weather approaches, we want to remind the citizens of Laredo never to leave children alone in the car. Our climate can become very hostile during the spring and summer and these conditions can cause serious injury and even death to our most precious resource.
In 2006, there were at least twenty-nine deaths of small children after being left inside a hot vehicle. Some of these even occur on days with relatively mild temperature. Since 1998, there have been 300 of these needless tragedies.
Safety recommendations
* Never leave children in an unattended car, even with the windows down.
* Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Do not overlook sleeping babies.
*Make “Look before you leave” a routine whenever you get out of your car.
Facts
*Heatstroke occurs when the body core temperature reaches 104 degrees (F).
*A body core temperature of 107 degrees (F) is usually fatal.
* A child’s body warms 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s does.
Please Laredo, parents and caregivers need to get the word out that a car is not a babysitter but it can easily become an oven.

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