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Keep kids, pets safe from heatstroke during hot months

The interior of a parked car can skyrocket to well over 100 degrees within minutes, leaving children and pets inside in dire situations.

TOLEDO, Ohio — The heat is on and it is important to remember not to leave children or pets in hot cars during days like Monday with temperatures in the 90s.

The interior of a parked car can skyrocket to well over 100 degrees within minutes, leaving children and pets inside in dire situations. So, stay attentive and triple-check your backseat during hot months.

"On an 80-degree temperature day ... in the first 20 minutes, that car temperature can get to 109 degrees. At 40 minutes, it can go to 118 degrees. After an hour, 123 degrees," said ProMedica Injury Prevention Specialist Hannah Eberlein.

Hyperthermia occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can handle. The first 10 minutes of being in a hot car can be the most crucial time for saving a child or pet.

Eberlein says heat exhaustion can come in many different forms and kids and pets may not always know how to express that they are overheated.

"A lot of times people think heatstroke is just neglectful parenting when it comes to kids in the car," she said. "That's actually the smallest portion of the pie, neglecting. It's oftentimes due to just forgetting accidentally, a change in routine as well."

If you are walking in a parking lot and see a child or pet in a locked car left unattended, Eberlein says to act immediately.

"Call 911," she said. "If those windows aren't broken and you see that there is a child or even a pet in there, go ahead and break that window if you have something to do it. It'll get some more air circulating but it's really important to act quickly when it comes to heatstroke because it does happen very quickly."

Kids are at the biggest risk of heat stroke because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than a typical adult, according to Eberlein.

Even if you are standing in the shade or have the windows rolled down, it won't do much to help prevent heatstroke.

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