Temps Rising This Week Means Hot Car Interiors…Things To Know

The thermometer will be rising to summertime temperatures over the next few days…in fact on Friday we could see near record or record high temperatures. Local law enforcement agencies say it is a good time to remind parents about the dangers of leaving children or pets in vehicles during hot weather. Just a few minutes inside a car during the summer can become deadly. When the outside air temperature is just 85 degrees, vehicle interior temperatures can reach over 100 degrees in just ten minutes or less.

In the state of Tennessee, it is legal to break a window if you see a child or pet in distress inside a locked vehicle. You must call 911 though to inform authorities. Plus, before breaking into the vehicle by breaking the window, concerned citizens need to ensure the car is indeed locked, that the child or the pet is in imminent danger of suffering harm if not immediately removed and of course notify law enforcement. According to the website KidsandCars.org, an average of 38 children die every year from heat-related injuries while being trapped inside a vehicle.