Heatstroke Prevention Tips for Parents and Caregivers from Security Specialists

The dog days of summer are now here and as the temperatures rise, it’s important to remember that leaving a child alone in a car can lead to tragedy from heatstroke. To make sure a heatstroke tragedy doesn’t happen to your family, here are seven helpful tips to help keep your kids safe:

1. When traveling with children, always look in both the front and back of a vehicle before locking the door and walking away.
2. Never, ever leave a child alone in a parked car. Even with the windows open or the air conditioning on. A child’s body temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult’s bod temperature. Remember, a core body temperature of 107 degrees is lethal.
3. If you happen to see a child alone in a vehicle always double-check to make sure that child is responsive and not in danger. If the child is not in danger, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility’s security or management page the car owner over the PA system. If the child is not responsive, call 911 immediately. If the child is not responsive, attempt to get into the car to assist the child—even if that means breaking a window—many states now have “Good Samaritan” laws that protect people from lawsuits for getting involved to help a person in an emergency
4. Remember, heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.
5. Always lock your vehicle doors and trunk and keep the keys out of a child’s reach. Don’t let kids play in an unattended car. If a child is missing, quickly check all vehicles, including the trunk.
6. If transporting your child to school or activities is part of your normal routine, make sure you always double-check the backseat of your car before leaving it. Try putting a purse or mobile phone next to the child’s seat so that you’ll always remember.
7. Make it a regular practice to call your spouse, significant other or caregiver to confirm you’ve dropped your child off.

Remember: kids and hot cars are a deadly combination. Always Look Before You Lock.

We at Security Specialists Want You and Your Children to Stay Safe in Summer’s Heat!