Hot summer takes a toll here

The sun provides warmth, light and joy, but even at a distance of 93 million miles from the Earth, it can also kill.

In the summer, we’re generally reminded of the intense heat produced by the sun, but forgetting that such warmth can cause more than discomfort and invariably leads to tragedy.

Southern Californians were vividly reminded of the chilling effects of the sun’s heat when a Simi Valley woman recently left her two children, a 3 year old and a 14-month-old infant, in the car for four hours, resulting in their deaths from hyperthermia.

A press release late last month from the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) warned about the dangers of leaving children unattended in hot cars, but was largely ignored as being common sense, according to Paul Gonzales, a spokesman for AAA.

"Since that time, two people in Simi Valley have died," said Gonzales.

Though he noted that no national study has been made of heatstroke related injury and death in children left in hot cars, working from local studies and conferences with health professionals, the Auto Club has determined that "children under 4 years of age seem to be at most risk of having their lives in danger from being left in a hot car." Three scenarios can cause heat-related deaths in children left in vehicles – children intentionally left in cars; children forgotten because of adult confusion or impairment (usually resulting from drug or alcohol abuse or mental illness); and children locking themselves in a car while at play.

These three situations seem to be evenly dispersed, with no clear-cut leading cause.

Gonzales warned that if the temperature is 90 degrees outside ––often the daytime lows in the summer months in Southern California––temperatures inside the car can reach 110 degrees, even with the windows down, and in a matter of mere minutes can climb to 150 degrees or more.

Small children dehydrate very quickly in these temperatures and the insulation of a child seat, necessary to protect children from injury when the vehicle is in motion, can aggravate the problem. Within moments, a child’s internal temperature can easily reach 107 degrees, a fatal level.

Physicians warn that "even five minutes locked in an overheated car may be too much for a small child."

Frequently, parents leave their kids in a vehicle, intending to be gone for only a minute, but Gonzales said that delays often occur and even a quick stop at a store can easily be delayed by lines, check writing, price checks and other obstacles that quickly eat up time.

"It doesn’t take anything for one minute to turn into 10," said Gonzales. "Or 10 minutes into 20. All the time the child is in the car getting hotter and hotter and hotter.

"It’s the kind of thinking almost all of us are subject to."

Gonzales summed it up with this warning, "Never leave a child unattended in a car, not even for a minute."

In its press release, AAA suggested these safety tips to motorists:

•Never leave a child unattended in a car, even for a minute.

•If you see a child locked in a car, immediately call 911 for emergency assistance.

•Get the child to a hospital emergency room as soon as possible.

•Never try to treat the heatstroke at home with cold water or cooling the child in a tub of water. Only a specialist should treat heatstroke.

See related story on senior citizens and hot weather on page 25