FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS ) – Hot and muggy conditions are forecast to continue across the Midwest and Northeast, while spreading eastward Monday. Following a hot weekend, Monday’s high temperatures are expected to be in the mid-nineties. Rain is expected to move in overnight but throughout Monday, you should use precautions due to the high temperature.
According to the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year and even more heat-related illnesses.
It is NEVER safe to leave a toddler, disabled person or pet locked in a car. Even in the winter. So far in 2018, one toddler has died due to heat. That death occurred in February. Cars can heat up quickly when left in the sun.
Safety Tips for Parents
Even on mild days in the 70s, studies have shown that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for children, pets and even adults. Leaving the windows slightly open does not significantly decrease the heating rate. The effects are more severe on children because their bodies warm at a faster rate than adults. A dark dashboard or carseat can quickly reach temperatures in the range of 180°F to over 200°F. These objects heat the adjacent air by conduction and convection and also give off long wave radiation, which then heats the air trapped inside a vehicle. Follow these tips to ensure your child’s safety:
Touch a child’s safety seat and safety belt before using it to ensure it’s not too hot before securing a child
Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down, even for just a minute
Teach children not to play in, on, or around cars. They could accidentally trap themselves in a hot vehicle.
Always lock car doors and trunks–even at home–and keep keys out of children’s reach.
Always make sure children have left the car when you reach your destination. Don’t leave sleeping infants in the car ever.
If you do have to be outside today:
Drink water often
Rest and cool down in the shade during breaks
Gradually increase workload and allow more frequent breaks for new workers or workers who have been away for a week or more
Know symptoms, prevention, and emergency response to prevent heat-related illness and death
Check weather forecasts ahead of time to be better prepared.
