Heatstroke is a leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in young children. With temperatures over 100 degrees in the Morongo Basin this week, the California Office of Traffic Safety cautions parents, plus anyone transporting pets or the elderly, that leaving them in a hot car, even for a few minutes, can have fatal or irrevocable consequences. Managing editor Tami Roleff offers the following signs of heat stroke…
If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, immediately call 911. Warning signs of a heatstroke include: fainting; dizziness or light-headedness; red, hot, and dry skin; no sweating; muscle weakness or cramps; nausea and vomiting; and a rapid pulse, which may be either fast or slow. Anyone in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled. Any delay in seeking medical care can be fatal.