Warm Weather Warning For Parents

With warmer weather headed our way, the Safe Kids Coalition has a warning for parents.<br/><br/>"We're asking parents to take the time to teach their children that it is not okay to play in and around

Wednesday, April 18th 2007, 4:56 pm

By: News On 6

With warmer weather headed our way, the Safe Kids Coalition has a warning for parents.

"We're asking parents to take the time to teach their children that it is not okay to play in and around vehicles," said Wes Bender of Safer Kids Coalition.

General Motors, Safe Kids Coalition and the Tulsa Fire Department gathered Wednesday to let parents know that it doesn't have to be hot outside for a car to be dangerous. Safe Kids says the temperature in a car can rise 19 degrees in 10 minutes, and in an hour's time, the difference between outside and inside the car can be as much as 50 degrees.

Every parent is urged to keep their keys where kids can't get to them, and never leave your child in the car alone.

"Running that errand, when you go into the store and 10 minutes turns into 20, and 20 turns in 40 can mean life and death for a child," said Tulsa Fire Captain Larry Bowles.

Oklahoma ranks third in the nation in the number of heat-related car deaths.

Related stories:

3/24/2004 Don't leave your young children alone in a vehicle

7/18/2005 Two cases of kids in hot cars, now, a Green Country father speaks out about his loss

8/24/2005 Muskogee woman arrested after leaving child in car

6/9/2006 High Heat Dangers

7/11/2006 Kids Left In Hot Cars In Tulsa And Muskogee

7/14/2006 Children Alone In A Car Dangers