Leaving children and pets in a hot carDear Editor: The tragic death of a 3-year-old toddler in Tampa after her cousin allegedly left her in a hot car for 90 minutes is a reminder that hot cars can be deadly. In just 10 minutes, the temperature inside a parked car can spike 19 degrees, and it can rise 29 degrees in 20 minutes. On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a car can climb to 97 degrees in just 10 minutes. According to Kids and Cars, a national nonprofit organization that PETA has partnered with, hyperthermia is the third-leading cause of death in children in non-traffic vehicular incidents. Countless dogs also suffer and die in hot cars each year. With only hot air to breathe, dogs can succumb to heatstroke in as little as 15 minutes, resulting in brain damage or death. Please, when it's even a little warm outside, never leave any living being in a parked vehicle, even for a minute. If you see a child or dog left in a car, have the car's owner paged or call the police right away. Take immediate action-the victim's life may depend on it. Visit www.HelpingAnimals.com to learn more. Sincerely, Martin Mersereau
|