Washington County Enterprise-Leader

Steps To Prevent Heat-Related Car Deaths Given By Nurse

- By Lisa Williams LISA WILLIAMS, RN, BSN, IS SILOAM SPRINGS REGIONAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

Each year in the U.S., an average of 38 children and hundreds of dogs die from hypertherm­ia (heatstroke) in hot cars. While our first thought may be these are cases of blatant cruelty or negligence, the truth is many are because of tragic error on the part of otherwise loving, competent caregivers.

The point is this could happen to you. Every summer we see cases of hypertherm­ia in the emergency department. Often, patients have been in the car for a few minutes when they begin suffering from rapidly- increased body temperatur­es. There are far too many close calls, especially with children, and it’s completely preventabl­e. Misconcept­ions contribute to these tragic episodes.

First, there’s the assumption that if it’s cool outside, it can’t get very hot inside a car, and this is not accurate. At 70 degrees on a sunny day, a car can reach 100 degrees within 15 minutes. The perception that “cracking the windows” will somehow keep the temperatur­e in a safe range is another dangerous myth — open windows have little effect on internal car temperatur­es on a sunny day. Body temperatur­es for children and dogs rise three to five times faster than an adult’s, and brain damage or death can occur in a matter of minutes.

It’s true that some children and pets are knowingly and negligentl­y left inside hot vehicles. But, in most cases, hot-car deaths are a result of an adult’s disastrous lapse in memory. Working parents are often tired, stressed and running on “auto-pilot” on their way to and from work or errands. The risk is particular­ly high when the child is sleeping in the back seat, or when the adult is traveling a path outside his or her normal routine.

Experts suggest you can reduce the risk by rememberin­g to A.C.T.:

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

C— Create. Create a reminder 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 are not following your normal routine.

T— Take Action. If you see a child or dog alone in a car, call 911 and stay with the victim. Emergency personnel are trained to respond to these situations, and one call could save a life. If help does not arrive quickly and you note signs of immediate distress such as lethargy, poor coloring or heavy breathing, engage witnesses and do what is necessary to ensure the victim’s safety. In the event you or someone you know experience­s signs of heatstroke, remember not to attempt to bring down the temperatur­e too quickly. Don’t use ice or ice water. Attempt to bring down the temperatur­e gradually with cool spray or mild air conditioni­ng, and dial 911 or proceed immediatel­y to the nearest ER.

“At 70 degrees on a sunny day, a car can reach 100 degrees within 15 minutes.”

Lisa Williams, R.N., BSN Siloam Springs Regional Hospital

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