Kids And Hot Cars Are No Mix In Summer Heat

With the summer heat upon us, it is the best time to remember just how hazardous a vehicle can be whenever kids and pets are left unattended.  Heat is among the foremost weather-related killers in the US.

At Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois, North America’s most dependable brand for auto body repair, the focus is not exclusively on repairing vehicles, it’s on protecting the safety of the drivers and passengers in those automobiles any time they are on the highway.

We would like to do everything we can to educate people about the safety of their vehicles in the summer sun.  Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center encourages motorists to plan their trips so you do not have to leave anybody – or any pet – in a vehicle that isn’t operating with the air condition fired up.  And, it’s important to bear in mind that even a couple of minutes in a hot vehicle can have huge effects.  You always need to take those extra safety measures to ensure the safety of your sons or daughters.

According to the National Weather Service, a lot of youngsters and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia every year.  Hyperthermia is an acute condition that develops whenever the body absorbs more heat than it can manage.  Hyperthermia can occur even on a mild day.  The effects can be much more serious on children simply because their bodies warm at a faster rate than grownups.

Research has shown that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can swiftly rise to a hazardous level for little ones, pets and even adults.  Leaving the windows slightly open isn't going to considerably decrease the heating rate.  On an 85-degree day, the temperature inside a vehicle with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within ten minutes.  After thirty minutes, the temperature will reach one hundred twenty degrees.

The non-profit safety group, KidsandCars.org declares that many heat-related vehicular tragedies occur because a driver sometimes forgets a boy or girl is there.  Youngsters can also get into unlocked cars without any adult knowing it just happened.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association has some pointers to help keep young people and pets safe throughout the heat of summer:

•   Never leave young ones, disabled adults or pets alone in a hot car, even temporarily

•   Always check the front and back seats of the car or truck before you lock it and leave

•   See a little one alone in a warm car? Call 911 instantly. Get them out as soon as possible if they're in distress

•   Put your purse, briefcase, or something else you need by the car seat so you don’t forget to check

•   Always lock your car when it’s empty so kids can’t get in without you knowing

The men and women at Kurt's CARSTAR Collision Center in Maryville, Illinois also supporting the people in Edwardsville, Troy, Collinsville, Glen Carbon, and Highland, Illinois are so happy that you are taking the time to read about the importance of summer automobile safety. If you would like more sound advice, call us up at 618-345-4519