Topic of the Month (August 2014): Keep Your Child Safe, Look Before You Lock!

Hot weather is back and on average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle. These deaths are preventable, and everyone in the community has a role to play in protecting our children. Here is what you can do:

• Always make a habit of looking in the vehicle-front and back-before locking the door and walking away.
• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle-even if the windows are partially open or the engine is running with the air conditioning on. 
• Place an item that is needed at your final destination in the back of the vehicle next to the child or place a stuffed animal in the driver's view to indicate that a child is in the car seat.
• Call 911 immediately if you see a child alone in a hot vehicle. If he or she is in distress due to heat, get the child out as soon as possible and cool him or her down rapidly. 

*Don't forget pets can also die from heatstroke. It doesn't take long for a car to heat up, even with the windows cracked. It's never a good idea to leave a pet in the car!

Check out the video below and the following website link for more information:  http://www.safekids.org/heatstroke