 Every year an average of 162 people die from heat-related illnesses
-- which is nearly the same number of fatalities from lightning,
floods and tornadoes COMBINED.
Of these heat fatalities, nearly 25 percent are due to
children being left in enclosed vehicles.
The temperatures inside a vehicle can rise to extremely dangerous
levels. Studies have indicated the following temperature increases
inside automobiles:
|
Average time |
Temperature rise inside auto (approx.) |
| 10 minutes |
20 degrees F |
| 20 minutes |
30 degrees |
| 30 minutes |
35 degrees |
| 60 minutes |
43 degrees |
| 2 hours |
45-50 degrees |
To determine the temperature in the automobile, add the number in
the chart to the air temperature outdoors. You can see that
on a 90-degree day, the
temperature will jump to about 120 degrees
in only 20 minutes and around
133 degrees in only an hour.
Take a few extra moments to make sure that you don't leave a
child, or pet, in the back seat of an automobile, especially on days
when the heat and humidity are dangerous.
BEAT THE HEAT... CHECK THE BACK SEAT.
Here are additional warnings related to heat and automobiles:
-
Children and pets
should never be left unattended in vehicles on warm or hot days,
under ANY circumstances! Car interiors can reach lethal
temperatures in a matter of minutes.
-
Cracking a window
has little effect in "cooling" the inside of the auto for
occupants left behind.
[to top of second column] |
-
Heat kills. In the
past 12 years, more than 450 children have died from
hyperthermia (heatstroke) after being left in OR after gaining
access to unattended autos. ALWAYS lock your auto to keep
children from gaining access to the vehicle on warm or hot days.
-
If you see a child
left unattended in a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately!
-
Illinois is one of 15 states with a law
that prohibits leaving children unattended in a hot vehicle.
[Text from file received from Chief
Ken Greenslate, Lincoln
Police Department]
 |
