As the searing heat of summer rolls in, the Tennessee Department of Health is reminding residents and visitors to increase their efforts to prevent deaths from heat stroke in cars, trucks and SUVs like the case in Smyrna.
Heat stroke can occur when a person’s temperature exceeds 104 degrees and his or her ability to handle heat is overwhelmed. The first symptoms include dizziness, disorientation and sluggishness, followed by loss of consciousness, hallucinations and rapid heartbeat. When the body’s core temperature reaches 107 degrees, internal organs often stop functioning.
A study by the San Francisco State University Geoscience Department looked at how quickly heat can rise in a vehicle. To investigate heat build-up, researchers used a dark blue mid-size sedan with a grey interior, with the windows slightly cracked open and temperatures between 72 and 96 degrees. The temperature increased inside the car was 19 degrees in 10 minutes, 29 degrees in 20 minutes, 34 degrees in 30 minutes, 43 degrees in 60 minutes and between 45 and 50 degrees in two hours.
If anyone ever sees a baby alone in a hot car, don’t be concerned a parent might get mad about you dialing 9-1-1. The parent might consider you a lifesaver.
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Rutherford County Sheriffs Office
Rutherford County Sheriffs Office
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