How can I prevent heatstroke?

Gabby Allen
·2 min read

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Wednesday is National Heatstroke Prevention Day and, with temperatures in the DMV reaching as high as 90 this week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has tips to keep you and your family safe.

Heatstroke begins when someone’s core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees, as opposed to a normal range of 97 to 99 degrees

Symptoms include dizziness, disorientation, agitation, seizure, rapid heartbeat and hallucinations, among others.

When body temperatures surpass 107 degrees, cells are damaged and organs can begin to shut down.

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A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s, making them especially vulnerable to heatstroke.

Last year, 29 kids died of heatstroke in vehicles, according to NHTSA.

“Over the past 25 years, more than 965 children have died of heatstroke, because they were left or became trapped in a hot car. It’s important for everyone to understand these tragedies can happen to anyone – but are always preventable,” stated NHTSA on its website.

NHTSA has the following tips for parents and caregivers to prevent hot car deaths:

  • Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. Rolling windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the interior temperature of the vehicle.

  • Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle — especially the back seat — before locking the doors and walking away.

  • Ask your childcare provider to call if your child doesn’t show up for care as expected.

  • Place a personal item like a purse or briefcase in the back seat, as another reminder to look before you lock. Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger’s seat to remind you that a child is in the back seat.

  • Store car keys out of a child’s reach and teach children that a vehicle is not a play area.

If you see a child alone and locked in a car, you should call 911.

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