Posted by When heat waves hit, bad things tend to happen. Local health and emergency services warn us to take preventative measures, but nonetheless reports of accidents and heat-related health issues abound when the mercury rises.
And with temperatures expected to rise to potentially record levels this weekend in Los Angeles, this warning is never more important than right now.
advertisements
That said, there’s some things we can all do to keep us, our pets, and our kids safe from the perils of a really hot day.
And to prove it, here’s some pictures of some extremely cute pooches to guide you through a bit of sound advice.
First off, remember that the dangers are real. The hazards of excessive heat can lead to serious conditions like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. It happens way more often than you think.
Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. You should never, ever leave Children, disabled adults or pets in parked vehicles, most especially when elevated temperatures pose an increase danger.
Leaving the windows cracked open or a bowl of water in the car is not enough. These leather seats are hot! When the heat rises, your car basically becomes a conduction oven when it’s parked in the open sun. For example, if it’s 90 degrees outside, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise to 109 degrees in just 10 minutes.
Animals can sustain brain damage or potentially even die from heatstroke in just 15 minutes. Remember that dogs can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paw pads, so it’s up to the humans who take care of them to not put them in harms way.
Dogs aren’t the only ones who need special consideration. Small children are especially susceptible to heat related conditions as well. Make sure your child’s safety seat and safety belt buckles aren’t too hot before securing your child in a safety restraint system, especially when your car has been parked in the heat.
Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down, and always lock car doors and trunks–even at home–and keep keys out of children’s reach.
Adults need to stay safe too. Make sure you slow down (no over-exertion of physical activity in the hot sun), dress cool, and stay hydrated.
Also, if you can manage to stay in an air-conditioned environment during the peak heat hours, all the better!
All in all, just remember, heat waves are no joke. Stay cool and stay safe!
advertisements
