Did you know that it takes about 15 minutes for a car sitting in 38 degrees to heat up to an excruciating 60 degrees? Now imagine a dog or child locked in a vehicle that is quickly turning into a boiling death trap. That child or animal is now fighting a losing battle while their owner or parent runs to the shop for just a “minute”.
The risk of excessive heat is water loss (dehydration) which can cause the impairment of body function and lead to a heat stroke that can be life threatening.
Signs of dehydration and heat stress
Children:
• Child has not urinated in eight hours or only a few wet nappies
• Dark coloured urine
• Cries but produces no tears
• Has sunken soft spot in the skull (fontanelle)
• Child is listless or lethargic
• Profuse sweating
Dogs:
·Panting
·Excessive drooling (ptyalism)
·Increased body temperature – above 39° C
·Reddened gums and moist tissues of the body
·Production of only small amounts of urine or no urine.
·Rapid heart rate
What to do in an emergency?
- Call for assistance by dialling 082 911
- Act quickly
- Move the child or dog to a cool place
- Remove clothing
- Help the body to cool by placing moist, cool cloths on the body (in children the forehead and wrists)
- Fan the child or dog
- Replace lost fluids with water
WATCH: A reenactment of what happens when a child is left in a hot car ( Not for sensitive viewers).
