Dodge County Traffic Safety Officials Reminding Residents To Not Leave Children In Hot Vehicles

(Juneau) With the arrival of warmer weather, officials with the Dodge County Traffic Safety Commission are reminding motorists of the dangers of leaving children in vehicles during the hot summer months. Traffic Safety Coordinator Joel Kiesow says heatstroke is the leading cause of vehicular non-crash-related deaths for children under 14. He says since 1998, an average of 38 kids a year have died from heatstroke. In 2017 the number reached 43 and in 2018 heatstroke fatalities hit 51. Kiesow says children overheat up to five times faster than adults and notes that a child will die when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees. He also encourages passerby’s to take action if they see a child alone in a car and call 911 immediately if they are not responding. If responsive, Kiesow says to stay with the child until help arrives and have a second person search out the driver. Kiesow says protecting children is everyone’s business and that everyone should understand the consequences of leaving children in hot cars.