Summer Heat & Loved Ones
Summer has arrived, and there are some real dangers involving children and dogs exposed to the heat of summer. 2018 was a record year for children dying in hot cars, 2019 is predicted to be higher!
Why are Hot Cars dangerous for young children and dogs? Heat is especially dangerous for young children, whose body temperature rises upto 5 times faster than an adult, which puts them at risk. Dogs wear a fur coat and get hot very fast in a hot car, just 1 degree in a child or dogs core temperature is the difference between life and death.
Have you ever picked up a child from their car seat and they were hot and sweaty, even though the air conditioner was on high and the ambient temperature was comfortably cool in the car?
A study done by Safe Kids explains why children may die so quickly in a car. Did you know that the color of your cars interior can HAVE A HUGE impact on how hot your car gets? According to Safe Kids when the outside temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit the following
Car Interior Color Potential Danger Temperature
. White ..................................... 135 Degrees Fahrenheit . Red ....................................... 154 Degrees Fahrenheit . Blue or Green ...................... 165 Degrees Fahrenheit . Black ..................................... 195 Degrees Fahrenheit
This is the temperature of your cars interior and your child's car seat! Remember your child temperature rises 5 times faster than yours. When you place your child into a hot car seat their core temperature shortly starts to rise even though the air conditioner is on high.
Understand Heat Effect on your Baby Once it gets over 80 degrees, their body has a harder time cooling off - especially for babies. Dr. Jan Montague, director of pediatrics at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, says to avoid the heat as much as possible. " It is not ok to take a newborn or any infant outside when it is very hot- over 80 degrees or so," she says. "babies cannot sweat, which is your body's way of cooling itself off, so they can suffer a Heat Stroke much quicker than an older child or adult." Plus babies can get dehydrated much faster too.
Recognizing the Signs of Overheating
Since your baby can't tell you if its feeling uncomfortable, it's important to keep on the lookout for cues of heat exhaustion or other heat-related conditions. Warning signs include being very warm to touch (more than how your baby's typically warm belly feels), extreme thirst, sweating profusely, acting very tired or weak and showing a general lack of energy. Since you know your baby better than anyone you will know if she is suffering from heat exhaustion, take the time to get her to a cool place take off clothes and sponge her off with cool water, (not cold enough to cause shivering.) Continue to give your older baby sips of water, or if under-6-month-old infant breast milk or formula.
That's why you should never leave a baby in a hot room or parked car. Even a few minutes could cause the baby or child's temperature to spike and, in extreme cases, may prove life-threatening. In addition, don't over dress your newborn for the car. Since we keep babies tight in the car seat and rear-facing, it can get quite hot, so keep them dressed in one layer only, no hats or feet covered- babies trafer some heat out of their body through their head and feet. Dr. Montague says, "Also, make sure the sun is not beating down on the infant during your drive." " You can use a window shade to avoid sunburn.
Presented by Phillip G. Pitts Sr.
CEO URCOOLSTUFF providing safe cooling product for babies and dogs.