TRAVERSE CITY — With this late July heat beating down on us -- it’s important to stay vigilant.
A Clare County couple has been arrested after police said they left a dog and a 5-year-old in a hot car earlier this week.
Neither the child -- nor the dog were injured, but the child’s mom-- NaTasha Garcia and her boyfriend Nathan Crandell are facing charges.
Even though the little one and the dog came out ok -- the effects of leaving people or pets inside a hot car can be deadly.
" Even with the windows cracked 3 to 4 inches, on a 90-degree day, the temperature can raise to from 120 to over 150 degrees in minutes in a motor vehicle."
The Traverse City Fire Department is warning people to stop leaving kids and pets inside hot cars, even for a short time.
Fire Chief Jim Tuller said leaving kids or pets in cars could be deadly.
“Children, because they’re so small, absorb heat 4 to 5 times faster than an adult does. So, it affects them quicker if their core temperature gets up to 104 degrees,” said Tuller. They start having seizures, they can go unconscious. I mean, it’s a true-life emergency that can happen in a matter of just a few minutes.”
Over the course of summer Tuller said he sees an average of ten to twelve rescues from concerned citizens who spot cars where people have left children and pets inside to run quick errands.
“Through case studies we found that a certain number of vehicular fatalities involving children in motor vehicles were actually happening at the home or the place of residence.”
Tuller also sees heat related deaths from children gaining access to cars.
“The vehicles unlocked, the children or child are playing and they access the car, maybe to play hide and seek. Then they become overcome with heat and unfortunately, they perish in a motor vehicle.”
Pets aren’t immune to the effects of heat either, Veterinarian Nabilah-Divine-Curtis said trapping them in cars can lead to urgent care visits.
“They might start to show signs of respiratory distress, like they can’t get enough air in, their gum color, which usually should be, like a nice pink color, might change. It might get really, really red. It could go all the way to getting kind of blue. They can start to have vomiting. They can have diarrhea; they can have blood in their vomit or their diarrhea. So, it can escalate quite rapidly.”
I spoke with Michigan State Police Sergeant Ashley Miller who said parents can face charges resulting for leaving children or pets in hot cars.
I spoke with Michigan State Police Sergeant Ashley Miller who said parents can face charges resulting for leaving children or pets in hot cars.