Look Before You Lock campaign relaunched in Imperial Valley for heat stroke awareness

We hear about it every year. Children, sometimes just a couple of months old, dying after being left in hot cars. With those details, it’s not surprising that heat stroke is the number one cause of death for children outside of car crashes.

“Look before you lock”. That’s the new message from the Imperial County Public Health Department and local law enforcements. Warning parents about the dangers of heat stroke. It’s essential to saving a child’s life

“It’s very important. We live out in the desert, the temperatures are extremely hot during the summer time. And unfortunately people just forget, they leave sleeping babies in the back. So we want to bring awareness to it and try to save as many children as we can,” said James Pintus, EMS Coordinator

One way to a prevent a child from being left in a car, is for parents to take a minute and slow down.
Robert Gonzales of California Highway Patrol said, “my message to the parents is you know just slow down. Take your time. Don’t forget your children. A lot of times we’re in a hurry to get in and out vehicles. And a lot of times, we just think we’re gonna run into a store, take care of some businesses really quick. “

With temperatures continuing to rise, every second is vital. El Centro Fire Department Battalion Chief, Cedric Cesena said, ” the vehicle acts like an oven basically. So you know the heat is you know gaining temperature. About ten degrees per minute. So just imagine being in a vehicle in which the temperature skyrockets from 120 to 180 degrees or 200.”

Some of the signs of heat stoke: lack of sweating, changes in the level of consciousness, and changes in skin color and temperature.

Don’t hesitate to call law enforcement if you see a child locked in a hot car. Even if the A-C is on. It could possibly save a life.