High Heat Dangers

Hotter temperatures mean danger for kids in cars. Four children have already died in the US this year after being left inside a hot vehicle. <br/><br/>With temperatures already near 100 this early in

Friday, June 9th 2006, 2:35 pm

By: News On 6

Hotter temperatures mean danger for kids in cars. Four children have already died in the US this year after being left inside a hot vehicle.

With temperatures already near 100 this early in June, it's important to remind people who care for children, just how quickly cars can heat up. News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright has the facts.

Tulsa Police Sgt. Whitney Allen with the Child Crisis unit: "The air conditioning has been on in the car for awhile, we'll put this back here with the mannequin." The thermometer reads 90 degrees when we begin. Parents often think they can run a quick errand and leave a child in the car, but it's simply too dangerous, even with cracking the windows. "Just having the windows down a little bit is not safe and if they're totally down, your child is there for anyone to grab."

Children's body temperature rises three to four times that of an adult body, which puts them at more risk, faster, than adults. "It's been about six minutes and we're up to 133.9 degrees and continuing to rise as I'm talking to you."

Another tragedy that often happens is when a parent forgets the child is in the vehicle. That often happens when there's been a change in the parent's schedule, which is often during the summertime.

There are placard reminders you can hang on your mirror. You could also put a stuffed animal in the front so you'll remember the little one in the back.

After 20 minutes, the thermometer we put in the car quit working. "These are really horrific deaths. The kids are strapped into a vehicle and they just heat up and heat up till they get heatstroke and die."

The bottom line, cars are not babysitters, but they can become ovens. Medical officials say a child can get heatstroke when their body temperature reaches 104 degrees, 107 can be fatal.