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SBSO REMINDS RESIDENTS NOT TO LEAVE CHILDREN AND PETS IN VEHICLES UNATTENDED
St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann wants to remind residents to NEVER leave children or pets unattended in vehicles – no matter the circumstances or amount of time, especially during the hot summer months.
As temperatures continue to rise, the risk of serious injury or death increases dramatically. Here are several reasons why you should always double-check your vehicle before walking away:
🚨Rapid Temperature Increase: During summer, a vehicle’s interior can heat up by 20°F in just 10 minutes – even with windows cracked. On a 90-degree day, the inside of a car can reach 120°F or more within minutes.
🚨Heatstroke Risk: Children and pets are especially vulnerable to heatstroke because their bodies warm at a much faster rate than adults. Heatstroke can occur when body temperature reaches just 104°F, which can happen quickly in a hot car.
🚨Oxygen Depletion: Inside a closed vehicle, oxygen levels can drop quickly, especially for small children and animals, causing breathing difficulties or even loss of consciousness.
🚨Theft and Abduction Risks: Leaving children or pets alone can attract criminals or lead to abduction attempts in a matter of seconds.
🚨Accidental Injury: Children left alone may panic, attempt to escape, or play with buttons and controls, potentially putting the vehicle – and themselves – in danger.
🚨Psychological Stress: Being left alone in a confined, hot space can cause extreme fear, stress, and trauma, even if no physical harm occurs.
🚨Legal Consequences: Leaving a child or pet unattended in a vehicle can carry criminal charges, fines, and other legal penalties – even if no harm was intended.
For more information about child heatstroke prevention, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission at https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/heatstroke.
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