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IBEW Local 429
2001 Elm Hill Pike Nashville, TN 37210 Tel: (615) 889-4429 Fax: (615) 874-1253 |
Keep your cool: What not to do when it's hot
Hot enough for you? In the eastern half of the country, the answer is a definitive yes. Temperatures are rising and so are hot weather risks. Here are some things to think about as you wipe the sweat from your brow. Hot cars Recent statistics from SafeKids USA show that of the approximately 445 hyperthermia fatalities to children in the U.S. from 1998-2009 more than half (51 percent) were of children forgotten in a vehicle. Our Car blog recommends: •Never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle. •Check the car to make sure that all occupants leave the vehicle or are carried out when unloading. •If you lock the door with a key, rather than with a remote, it would force that one last look in the car before leaving it. •Keep a stuffed animal in the front passenger seat as a reminder of a child in the backseat. •Place something in the backseat that you need when you get out. •Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up. Heat-related illness Hundreds of people die each year from the effects of extreme heat, which include heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Our Health blog advises: •Check the weather •Stay indoors •Dress appropriately •Drink enough fluids •Skip the exercise •Take a cool shower Hot playgrounds Temperatures can spike much higher on playground equipment and surfaces—sometimes up to 140 degrees or more. At that heat, a child can get badly hurt in just a few seconds, suffering second and third degree burns. Parents should check for hot surfaces on metal playground equipment before allowing young children to play on it. A good method is to use the back of your hand, as we advised earlier. [Back...] |