95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

AAA: Safety Tips for Kids As Heatwave Hits Michigan

Weather experts are predicting a major heat wave for much of Michigan… a heat warning is now in effect until Saturday.  With the hot weather, AAA is offering some safety tips to help keep children safe.

“Even on pleasant days, the temperature inside a car can soar to well over a hundred degrees in less than ten minutes and that can put your children and pets at risk of heat stroke, and possibly death.”

The upcoming temps now and into the weekend, could be the hottest we’ve seen so far this summer.  And AAA spokesperson Adrienne Woodland, says these excessive temperatures can pose great risks to motorists. 

“The forecasted heatwave presents a greater risk for heat stroke tragedies.  From 1998 to 2018, 795 children have died from heatstroke in hot cars according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

Woodland says despite warnings from safety organizations, each year officials say children continue to die from this needless tragedy.

“People, most certainly think that this cannot happen to them, but many heat stroke incidents are accidents where parents or a caregiver forget they’re in the backseat of their car.”

Woodland says AAA  has some tips they hope will keep motorists and children safe, along with their pets.

“First and foremost, don’t leave them alone, not even for a minute. Never leave them unattended.”

Additional tips include not letting children play in unattended vehicles, keep keys out of sight and out of children’s reach and call for help if you do see a child left unattended in a car.  AAA says the hot temps also put pets at risk and advise not leaving them in a parked car either, even if windows are rolled down.

She adds  you should also keep an eye on your vehicle, things like batteries, engine coolant and tires should be in good shape to avoid a breakdown in excessive heat.

Woodland says if you need more tips, they can be found at AAA .COM

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.