COLLEGE STATION (WBAB/KLIF) – Texas has the highest number of hot car deaths than any other state with over 110 children dying since 1989. Johnny Humphreys with the Texas Heat Stroke Task Force says that deaths can be avoided if people follow guidelines, such as the ACT prevention statement of Safe Kids Worldwide.
“Never leave a child alone in a car, even for a minute. Create reminders by leaving whatever you are carrying with you in the back of the car so when you get to where you’re going, you’ll get in the back to get your things. The last thing is take action, if you see a child, unattended, in a car, call 911,” said Humphreys.
Humphreys said to always lock your car, even at home. Nearly one third of children that die in hot cars get trapped inside the vehicle and the temperature inside of a car can increase by twenty degrees in just ten minutes. Even parked in the shade a car’s temperature can continue to rise. He also says that children are much more susceptible to heatstroke than adults because a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster.
Humphreys encourages people to immediately call 911 if they encounter a child left alone inside a car. To download prevention toolkits or for more information go to www.safekids.org.
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