By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Don’t leave your children in a hot car. That’s the reminder from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
A new DCFS public service announcement says in the summer a car can heat up to 90 degrees in less than 10 minutes and it’s never a good idea to leave a child alone in a car for any amount of time. Plus it’s against the law.
About 37 kids die each year in hot cars, and one of the biggest problems is that moms and dads don’t think it can happen to them. DCFS is urging parents and caregivers to put something in the backseat that they will need like a purse, wallet, briefcase or phone to make sure the child isn’t left behind. according to the group, kids and cars dot org, a child’s body overheats three to five times faster than an adult’s, putting them at even greater risk if locked in a hot car.
DCFS said the same goes for pets, especially since they can’t cool down as quickly as people can. The group Kidsandcars.org said even with the windows cracked, the inside temperature of a car can hit 125 degrees in just minutes.
