Temperatures are heating up! It’s supposed to be in the 90’s tomorrow. Did you know that the inside of a car can get hot enough to bake a pizza!   At 70 degrees on a sunny day, after a half hour, the temperature inside a car is 104 degrees. After an hour, it can reach 113 degrees.   When temperatures outside range from 80 degrees to 100 degrees, the temperature inside a car parked in direct sunlight can quickly climb to between 130 to 172.

There have been so many horror stories of people leaving their babies and pets in the car thinking they would only be gone for a few minutes to come back to an emergent situation and sometimes too late!  KidsandCars.org reports that 16 children have died nationwide inside of a hot car this year, and summer is just starting. On average, 38 children will die of heatstroke each year due to being inside of a hot car.

So far this year:

• • Total number of U.S. heatstroke deaths of children left in cars, 2016:  16

• • Total number of U.S. heatstroke deaths of children left in cars, 2015:  24

• Total number of U.S. heatstroke  deaths of children left in cars, 1998-present:  677

These numbers are tragic and avoidable.  There was a campaign last year where people were supposed to leave their shoe next to the car seat because they wouldn’t be so distracted that they would leave the car without their shoes! These campaigns only work if people follow through!

If you do see a child trapped in a hot car call 911 immediately and break the car window farthest from the child so that they will not be harmed by shattering glass.

* Select the door window furthest from the baby.

* Use a hard object such as a tire iron, wrench, or can of food (whatever is available) to break the window.

* Choose a point in the window just above the door lock in case all you can do is make a hole.

* It will be much harder to break than you expect but keep trying.

* Hitting the window with the edge or pointy part of whatever object you are using may help to get the break started.

* Wrap your sleeve or other cloth item around your hand and push into the hole you’ve created.

* Reach in and unlock the door.

* Get the infant out, car seat and all, and into the shade.

You should be covered by your states Good Samaritan Laws but really do we even have a choice when it comes to someone’s personal property or DEATH?!?!

Think for a second how hot your car is when you first get in it after being in the store for even 10 minutes, now hwy would you leave a pet or a child to suffer and die in that heat!? Please please PLEASE be mindful of who you have in your car and remember not to leave anyone behind.  Stay tuned to this blog spot for more info! As always, DRIVE SAFE!