High Heat And Cars Can Be Dangerous

Protecting Children and Pets from the dangers of Summer heat.

It’s that time of year again! The sizzling summer temperatures and humidity may be wearing you out. For anyone dealing with the intense heat, the summer months can be detrimental. 

Statistically, hot weather is the deadliest out of all other weather related hazards. Most heat related deaths occur in the backseat of hot cars. 

“ Fortunately, we don’t get that call very often but a couple times a year we will get calls where someone’s in distress, typically we get calls that a pet is in distress, but every once in a while we get a call that a child is in distress, fortunately we’ve never had a death.” said  Ronnie Ward of the Bowling Green police department. 

Children and pets are most vulnerable to the dangers of extreme heat. Remember the rule, look before you lock! 

“We know that in a temperature of about 80° outside, a vehicle can reach deadly temperatures in just a matter of about 20 minutes.”  said Ward. 

It doesn’t take long for temperatures in a car to reach life threatening levels, even with the windows cracked or rolled down. 

Temperatures can exceed 120° in a hot car with no A/C within minutes during a 90° summer day.

If you see someone distressed in a hot vehicle Ward says the first thing to do is to contact police, but if it’s a dire situation, then take whatever action you need to.

“We’re not always able to unlock the car, but we have to break a few windows every now and then,” said Ward.