State Takes Kids Left In Hot SUV

Two Tulsa children are in state custody after police say their mom left them in a hot SUV for possibly as long as 30 minutes. Now the 21-year-old mom will have to go to court to get her children back. News On 6 anchor Scott Thompson reports EMSA says the children were checked at the scene, but did not suffer any life threatening injuries.

Still, they say, this morning's incident is the latest example of the dangers of triple digit temperatures.

Outside the Wal-Mart near 71st and Memorial the two boys, 2-years-old and 11 months, were found inside a Chevy Tahoe. Police believe they had been in the car for 30 minutes. Korsha Palmer was one of the first to find the children.

"The infant was very hot, sweating, crying and the older boy, he seemed to be more calm," said Palmer.

The boys' mother told police she went inside the store to buy a money order and didn't realize how hot it was going to be. Police say the children appear to be fine, but a few more minutes and it may have been a different story.

"If the smaller child had been in there much longer it could have been a tragic situation," said TPD Officer Don Deramus.

"As a parent you can't look at a watch and say, 'Five minutes, I'll be fine for five minutes'. Because every child is different," said EMSA's Tina Wells.

As the temperatures climb to the century mark, EMSA warns to take the heat seriously.

"You're going to get a little weak, dizzy, nauseous," said Paramedic Stephanie Wagner.  

They say, it might be surprising, but the most common heat-related call EMSA gets is for a 40 to 50-year-old man, usually doing yard work on the weekend.          

EMSA says it's important to drink lots of water, even the medics carry a cooler full on summer's hottest days.

Police believe the temperature inside the Tahoe holding the children was 90 degrees, even though the window was cracked.

"That's not going to make any difference at all," said Wagner

While the boys are expected to be fine, EMSA hopes parents understand the dangers of a hot car.

"Key message is, two minutes is too long on a day like this," said Wells.

Police don't believe the mother will face charges, but she will have to go to court next week in order to regain custody of her children.