Experts warn residents of the dangers of hot cars

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A small trip into the grocery store while leaving your child or pet in a car could bring big consequences in this heat. Experts say in this heat, your car could easily heat up to 120° or even 130° in just 20 minutes.

It’s plain and simple. Leaving a child unattended in a car in hot weather isn’t safe.

“They could die,” said Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department Chief Jay Delaney.

Not only is it unsafe, but it’s also illegal according to PA state law.

Chief Delaney says if you see a child in a vehicle on a hot day, you should take a closer look.

“If they’re actively talking to you can call 911 and get an emergency responder to come and get that child out safely,” Chief Delaney continued.

However, if the child is unresponsive, they may be suffering from a heat stroke, which could be fatal.

“In some cases, if you look in there and it looks really hot the child is unresponsive you might just want to break that window cause really heat stroke can set up rather quickly, once a baby’s temperature gets to 104°, 105°, they can have heat stroke like not too much past that,” Chief Delaney added.

Leaving your furry friend in a car in this weather can also cause harm.

“Even one minute can be dangerous,” said Indraloka Animal Sanctuary , Home To The NEPA Rescue Veterinary Clinic, Director of Development Robin Olson.

Olson says even on days in the 80s, your vehicle can still heat up fast, putting your pet at risk.

“A dog or a cat can suffer from heat stroke in as little as fifteen minutes,” Olson added.

Olson says if your dog or cat is behaving unusually during these temps, it’s best to pay the vet a visit, to stay safe.

When it comes to pets, pavement can also heat up quickly so it’s best to walk your dog when it’s dark or keep them on the grass.

If you see an animal or a child in a car and you’re concerned, you should call 911.

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