Your Car Can Turn Into An Oven Quickly Today – Please Don’t Leave Your Best Friend Behind!

Another HOT day is in store for us on yet another of the 101 Days of Summer Safety. We are reposting this particular tip in light of this heat wave.

If you are a pet owner and decide to run errands with Spot in your car - do NOT leave Fido in the back seat as you get out and go about your business. A car, on a day like today and even with windows cracked, can turn into an oven very quickly.

Like humans, dogs are at risk of heat stroke during the summer months. It can only take a few minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to succumb to heatstroke. Unlike people, our canine friends have very limited ability to cool off by sweating. Dogs have sweat glands on their foot pads only and their main mechanism for cooling down is panting which can be insufficient to lower their body temperature on hot days.

Just a few minutes in a car can be enough for an animal's body temperature to climb to deadly levels that will damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems, often leaving the animal comatose, dehydrated and at risk of permanent impairment or death. Even on a moderate summer day, the sun can turn a car into an oven very quickly. On a mild 70° day the temperature inside a car parked in the shade – even with the window “cracked”- can reach 89° in a few minutes; in direct sunlight it can reach more than 100°.

The law in Maryland: MD Code, Transportation § 21-1004.1
It is illegal for a cat or dog to be in a “standing or parked motor vehicle in a manner that endangers the health or safety of the cat or dog.”

It’s HOT Out There! Important Reminder For Athletes Of All Ages

Another hot one with more on the way. Many athletes young, and young at heart, still want to work out or participate in a variety of outdoor activities and sports. Please make sure you do so wisely and be informed.

Below are some important tips from our friends from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take into consideration before you train, workout, or compete.

• Pace activity. Start activities slowly and pick up the pace gradually.
• Schedule workouts or practices earlier or later in the day to avoid midday heat.
• Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while exercising. Muscle cramping may be an early sign of heat sickness. 
• Drink plenty of water and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Avoid liquids containing large amounts of sugar.
• Exercise with a partner or teammate.
• STOP all activity and get to a cool environment if you feel faint or weak. 

Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke

Today, tomorrow and Friday are going to be HOT! With that in mind MCFRS wants to share the below information that might be helpful. Be safe out there the rest of the week!

from CDC.gov

Extreme heat brings with it the possibility of heat-induced illnesses. During the hot, humid summer weather, the body's internal temperature can rise and can result in heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If not treated quickly, heat exhaustion can progress into heat stroke, which requires immediate medical care and can be fatal.

Signs and Symptoms:

Heat Exhaustion

• Severe thirst
• Muscle weakness
• Nausea, sometimes vomiting
• Irritability
• Headache
• Increased sweating
• Cool clammy skin
• Elevation of body temperature to 105 degrees Fahrenheit
• Weak, rapid pulse

Heat Stroke

• Severe, throbbing headache
• Weakness, dizziness or confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Decreased responsiveness or loss of consciousness
• Little or no sweating
• Flush, hot, dry skin
• Elevation of body temperature to 105 degrees Fahrenheit

What to Do:

If the person has a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or more or shows signs and symptoms of heatstroke, seek emergency medical care immediately. In cases of heat exhaustion and while waiting for help:

1. Move the person to a cool place indoors or under the shade of a tree.
2. Loosen clothing.
3. Have the person lie down. Elevate feet slightly.
4. If the person is alert, place in cool (not cold) bath water.
5. IF the person is alert, give frequent sips of cool, clear fluids (clear juice or sports drinks are best).
6. If the person is vomiting, turn his or her body to the side to prevent choking.
7. Monitor the person's temperatures.

Think Prevention! Be sensible about how much you exert yourself in hot weather.
Heat Exhaustion is the result of excessive heat and dehydration. Heat Stroke is a medical emergency!

Get Ready: High Heat In The Forecast

Be Careful and Check on Elderly Neighbors.

After a relatively wet and cool last couple of days, it appears that summer is getting ready to heat up this week. Weather forecasters are expecting hot and humid air to move in for the next several days. High temperatures are anticipated to get back into the 90's on Wednesday with a potential heat index around 95. The days to keep a very close eye on are Thursday, Friday and Saturday as highs are projected to be in the mid to upper 90's with a heat index near 105 degrees.

Excessive heat is especially dangerous to the elderly, the young, those with existing medical conditions and those that work outdoors. Fire Chief Scott Goldstein is urging residents to stay cool, stay hydrated and to check on the welfare of elderly or at-risk neighbors as things "heat up" this week in the metropolitan area.

Staying hydrated is essential all year long but is particularly important when temperatures soar. During hot weather and extreme heat, keep informed by listening to local weather and news channels and take a minute to review the tips below.

1. Pre-hydrate, hydrate and re-hydrate.
During hot weather you will need to increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Drink plenty of fluids in advance, during and after activities and don’t wait until you're thirsty to hydrate.

2.  Dress for the heat.
Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect some of the sun’s energy. Limit your direct exposure to the sun and wear a hat for extra protection.

3.  Monitor those at high risk.
Extreme heat can be hazardous to your health and although anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Those most at risk for heat-related illnesses include children, older adults, those that work or exercise outside and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Elderly or disabled residents in Montgomery County in need of a free fan can call 311 for information.

4. Children and cars - use common sense.
Never, ever leave infants, children, pets or the elderly in a parked car where temperatures can become life-threatening in minutes, even with the windows rolled down. Additionally, hot interior surfaces of a car can burn a child’s skin. Before you put your child in a car that has been parked in a warm/sunny spot, check the temperature of the car seat or upholstery first.

5. Avoid strenuous activity.
Take regular breaks when exercising or engaged in physical activity on warm days. If you recognize that you, or someone else, is showing signs of a heat-related illness, stop the activity immediately, find a cool place to rest, hydrate and seek medical attention if necessary.

6. Be a good neighbor.
Isolated, elderly adults are at a much higher risk of health-related issues. Be a good neighbor and take a minute to check in with your neighbors.

7. Remember your pets.
Hot weather can affect the well-being of pets making them susceptible to overheating which can lead to very dangerous heat stroke. Always provide a source of water and a cool, ventilated place for your pet. Leaving your pet inside a parked car, even for a few minutes, can be fatal. The inside of a car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes.

8. Stay indoors, if possible.
Stay indoors and, if possible, in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, consider going to the shopping mall, community center or public library. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you return to the heat.

Look Before You Lock

When temperatures rise, so does the risk of an unimaginable tragedy – children accidentally left in hot cars.

Nationally, nine children have died in cars as a result of the heat which is a 350 percent INCREASE from this time last year. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue is teaming up with Safe Kids Worldwide to prevent child deaths and injuries in hot cars.

When outside temperatures are in the low 80s, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in only minutes even with a window rolled down two inches. With sustained and record-breaking temperatures predicted in the region, families are reminded that one of the greatest dangers is leaving a child in a car unattended on a hot day. Children’s bodies do not acclimate to the heat as well as adults and can overheat easily. Infants and children under four years old are at the greatest risk for heat-related illness.

Hard Facts
Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children. On average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle. Children can also sustain injuries from hot cars that can include permanent brain injury, blindness, loss of hearing and kidney failure. Heatstroke tragedies often occur when there has been a change in a family’s daily routine, a parent leaves a child in the car “for just a minute” unaware how quickly the temperature in a car can rise to dangerous levels or after a child gets into an unlocked vehicle to play unbeknownst to the parent or caregiver and can’t get out.

Top Tips
These tragedies are preventable. Avert and reduce the number of deaths from heatstroke by remembering to ACT:

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child unattended in a car, not even for a minute. Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – and keep keys stored out of a child’s reach and car doors locked when the vehicle is not in use to prevent children from getting in on their own.
C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

Take Action To Prevent Heatstroke In Cars

Today we are joining our partners in safety, SafeKids, as they kick off their  Heatstroke Awareness

Campaign.

Did you know that even on a mild 70-degree day, the temperature inside of a car can rise 19 degrees in just 10 minutes?

As well, did you know that Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children? On average, every ten days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle.

Learn more by going here: HEATSTROKE

Fire Chief Lohr Cautions Parents on Dangers of Hot Cars in Summer

A friendly reminder from Chief Lohr on the dangers of hot cars that fits right in with this week's Summer of Safety program theme: Child Passenger Safety.

National Heatstroke Prevention Day: Don’t Leave Children Alone in Hot Cars!

Today is National Heatstroke Prevention Day!  Sadly there have been 24 deaths so far in the US this year--we are ahead of last year at this time!  Today our partners in safety, Safe Kids, will be posting on Facebook and tweet every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. various safety messages.  Safe Kids will be using the hash tag #heatstroke on all its social media posts and asks you to do the same.  We will be tweeting as well on our Twitter feed @mcfrs.

Below, please find some helpful tips from SafeKids as well as a video highlighting the danger.  Please spread the word!  BD

• July 31 is “National Heatstroke Prevention Day,” a day-long social media campaign created to raise awareness about the dangers of leaving children alone in hot cars. 

• So far in 2013 there have been at least 24 deaths of children unattended in vehicles.

• These tragedies happened in 15 different states from Texas and Florida to Idaho and Minnesota.

• They happened in temperatures as hot as 100 degrees and as mild as 76 degrees.

• Safe Kids is working with NHTSA and the GM Foundation to ask all our partners to help us raise awareness about the dangers of leaving children alone in cars.

From SafeKids.org

• Safe Kids is going to post on Facebook and tweet every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Safe Kids will be using the hash tag #heatstroke on all its social media posts and asks you to do the same. Our twitter handle is @safekidsusa if you want to retweet.

• We’re asking everyone to get involved by using your social media outlets and posting as many times as you can throughout the day to keep the conversation going.

• We have sample posts and tweets for you at Safekids.org.

The Issue

• Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children.

• It occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.

• Young children are particularly at risk as their body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s.

• When a child’s internal temperature gets to 104 degrees, major organs begin to shut down. And when that child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child can die.

• Because of this, and because cars heat up so quickly – 19 degrees in 10 minutes – tragedies can happen faster than you think.

• Symptoms can quickly progress from flushed, dry skin and vomiting to seizures, organ failure and death.

Key Stats

• Since 1998, at least 585 children across the United States have died from heatstroke when unattended in a vehicle.

• That’s one child every 10 days.

• Happens in three ways:

            •52% - child “forgotten" by caregiver

            •29% - child playing in unattended vehicle

            •18% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult

• In 2010, 49 children died from heatstroke. In 2012, one of the hottest years on record, 33 children died.  

• Heatstroke deaths have been recorded in 11 months of the year in nearly all 50 states.

Top Safety Tips

•          Heatstroke can happen anytime. Anywhere.

o          And it’s also completely preventable. 

•          We don’t want to see this happen to any family.

Safe Kids is working with great partners like NHTSA and the GM Foundation to remind parents and caregivers to ACT.

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own. 

C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.

T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke

Extreme heat brings with it the possibility of heat-induced illnesses. During the hot, humid summer weather, the body's internal temperature can rise and can result in heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If not treated quickly, heat exhaustion can progress into heatstroke, which requires immediate medical care and can be fatal.

Signs and Symptoms:

Heat Exhaustion

• Severe thirst
• Muscle weakness
• Nausea, sometimes vomiting
• Irritability
• Headache
• Increased sweating
• Cool clammy skin
• Elevation of body temperature to 105 degrees Fahrenheit
• Weak, rapid pulse

Heatstroke

• Severe, throbbing headache
• Weakness, dizziness or confusion
• Difficulty breathing
• Decreased responsiveness or loss of consciousness
• Little or no sweating
• Flush, hot, dry skin
• Elevation of body temperature to 105 degrees Fahrenheit

What to Do:

If the person has a temperature of 105 degrees Farenheit or more or shows signs and symptoms of heatstroke, seek emergency medical care immediately. In cases of heat exhaustion and while waiting for help:

1. Move the person to a cool place indoors or under the shade of a tree.
2. Loosen clothing.
3. Have the person lie down. Elevate feet slightly.
4. If the person is alert, place in cool (not cold) bath water.
5. IF the person is alert, give frequent sips of cool, clear fluids (clear juice or sports drinks are best).
6. If the person is vomiting, turn his or her body to the side to prevent choking.
7. Monitor the person's temperatures.

Think Prevention! Be sensible about how much you exert yourself in hot weather.

• Drink plenty of fluids- do not wait until you are thirsty.
• Avoid exertion in the hottest weather.
• Wear light-colored, loose clothing.

Heat Exhaustion is the result of excessive heat and dehydration. Heatstroke is a medical emergency!