The temperature is heating up in Las Vegas. Earlier this month, Las Vegas hit 100 degrees for the first time in 2022. As the outside temperature heats up, so can the temperature inside your car. Hot cars pose a danger for everyone. Keep reading as we discuss the dangers of hot cars.
We hope the below discussion helps you and your loved ones stay safe in the Las Vegas heat. If you are injured in a car accident, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer will help to protect your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation.
As a Las Vegas accident victim, you don’t want to fight alone against insurance companies. They do not have your best interests in mind. Anthem Injury Lawyers has a dedicated team of lawyers and staff ready to help you with your personal injury case. Insurance companies and other parties are not interested in helping you receive what you should as a victim in a Las Vegas accident. Your Las Vegas personal injury lawyer should have a proven track record of winning cases like yours for significant compensation. Our lawyers offer you 25 years of experience winning top compensation for Las Vegas accident victims.
Time is of the essence when pursuing compensation in car accident cases. Don’t delay—have our Las Vegas accident lawyers review your case. Sometimes people avoid contacting an accident lawyer because they worry about cost. You don’t have to worry about affordability. Our attorneys don’t get paid unless they win your case. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
Vehicular Heatstroke
The title of this article is a bit misleading because we are only going to talk about one hot car danger—heatstroke. Heatstroke is a condition caused by your body overheating. Your body can overheat as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures. According to the Mayo Clinic, heatstroke is the most serious form of heat injury. It can occur if your body temperature rises to 104 degrees F or higher.
Heatstroke can result in serious injuries and even death. If left untreated, heatstroke can quickly damage your:
- Brain
- Heart
- Kidneys
- Muscle
Vehicular heatstroke occurs when a person suffers from heatstroke in a vehicle. While anyone can suffer from vehicular heatstroke, the elderly and children are especially susceptible. According to the Mayo Clinic:
- Your ability to cope with extreme heat depends on the strength of your central nervous system. In the very young, the central nervous system is not fully developed, and in adults over 65, the central nervous system begins to deteriorate, which makes your body less able to cope with changes in body temperature. Both age groups usually have difficulty remaining hydrated, which also increases risk.
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Adult Vehicular Heatstroke
In August 2020, a 75-year-old Las Vegas woman tragically died while waiting in her hot car outside a VA hospital. The woman had accompanied her husband to the hospital but could not go inside due to the pandemic. She waited for him in their car. That day, the temperature reached 110 degrees F. When she was found unresponsive in the car, she had a body temperature of 109 degrees F.
As you age, you become increasingly susceptible to the dangers of hot cars. Health-related factors can increase your risk of heat-related illness. According to the National Institutes of Health, those factors include:
- Age-related changes to the skin such as poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands
- Heart, lung, and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever
- High blood pressure or other conditions that require changes in diet, such as salt-restricted diets
- Reduced sweating, caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, and certain heart and blood pressure drugs
- Taking several drugs for various conditions
- Being substantially overweight or underweight
- Drinking alcoholic beverages
- Being dehydrated
Recognize the Symptoms
Heatstroke can happen fast. If you or a loved one are at an increased risk for heatstroke, you should look out for the following symptoms:
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Combativeness
- Staggering
- Delirium
- Coma
- Dry, flushed skin
- Strong, rapid pulse
- Lack of sweating
If you recognize any of the above symptoms in someone or otherwise suspect heatstroke, immediately call 911. If possible, get the person out of the heat. If the person is responsive, offer them fluids. If cool water is available, try to apply a cool cloth to help them cool down.
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Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke
Pediatric vehicular heatstroke is when a child’s body overheats in a vehicle. Since 1998, 910 children have died due to pediatric vehicular heatstroke. Jan Null, CCM, Department of Meteorology and Climate Science, San Jose State University, has been tracking vehicular heatstroke deaths since 1998. The following information comes from Null’s website, NoHeatstroke.org:
- In 2022, there were three pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths in the United States.
- In 2021, there were 23 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths in the United States.
- In 2018, 53 children died in hot cars. It was the deadliest year on record since 1998.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children under 15 years old.
- Heatstroke happens when the body is not able to cool itself quickly enough.
- A child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s body.
- When left in a hot car, a child’s major organs begin to shut down when their temperature reaches 104 degrees F.
- A child can die when their temperature reaches 107 degrees F.
- Cars heat up quickly! In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees F.
- Cracking a window and/or air conditioning does little to keep it cool once the car is turned off.
- Heatstroke can happen when the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees F.
- Because of climate change, we can expect more days to be hotter.
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Prevent Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke
Unfortunately, pediatric vehicular heatstroke often occurs when a parent forgets that a child is in the car. You can help prevent a tragic accident by doing the following:
- Never leave a child in a car. Even if you are running a quick errand, your children should always be with you, not in the car.
- Always check the back seat before exiting the car. It can be helpful to put a necessary item in the back seat to make sure you check the back seat before exiting your vehicle. A necessary item can include a phone or wallet.
- Have your childcare provider call if your child is more than 10 minutes late.
- Follow-up if someone else is driving your child. Check to make sure the child has arrived safely.
If you see a child alone in a car and are concerned for their safety, immediately call 911. If necessary, you may need to remove the child from the vehicle and help them cool down.
EXPERIENCED LAS VEGAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
We hope the above discussion about the dangers of hot cars helps you and your loved ones stay safe in the Las Vegas heat. If you are injured in a Las Vegas area car accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Some people wonder why they need a personal injury lawyer to help them. A personal injury lawyer will work aggressively to protect your rights and help you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
Award-winning law firm Anthem Injury Lawyers is a team of experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyers. We are based in Henderson, Nevada, and serve clients throughout the Las Vegas area. When we say we offer personal injury law experience, we mean over 25 years of experience. This is the combination of knowledge and expertise you need to win significant compensation as a victim in a Las Vegas area accident. Our decades of experience, our expertise, plus our deep familiarity with all aspects of Nevada law, give you a powerful advantage. You will need that advantage to fight against those who may keep you from receiving what you deserve as a Las Vegas accident victim.
Your choice of an accident lawyer is one of the most consequential decisions you will ever make. It’s important to select a Las Vegas attorney that can put you in the best position to win your case. That’s why you need to speak with Anthem Injury Lawyers. Get the best accident attorneys in Las Vegas fighting for you. Our experts offer you the best opportunity to win top compensation. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
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