Road tripping in the heat

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The heat is on and that means you should make sure you’re keeping up with car maintenance ahead of summer travel.

The American Red Cross released a set of protocols you can follow to keep you and your pets to stay safe while on the road.

We’re all so excited to get on the road for fun summer travels but with this Yuma heat, it’s important to keep up with car maintenance and stay stocked up with supplies to get to our destination safely.

The protocol list goes on but starts with basic car maintenance.

Stocking your vehicle with first aid kits, jumper cables and a portable car battery charger is a great start.

Melody Birkett of the American Red Cross also warns drivers about making sure their prescribed medication doesn’t cause drowsiness to avoid accidents.

“It’s always good to take your car to a mechanic and get it checked out," said Birkett. "Hoses and belts, they don’t always hold up well in hot weather like they do in other parts of the country.”

In May, Russell McCloud of Accurate Automotive Attention stressed the importance of checking under your hood to see where your fluid levels are at, starting with the coolant.

“If you have a small coolant leak, it could take time you don’t really notice it. And then all of a sudden the coolant level becomes low enough to a point where the vehicle starts overheating," said McCloud.

Vacations are fun, but even better when furry friends can come along.

The American Red Cross has a pet first aid app you can download that shows warning signs of heatstroke in animals, provides animal CPR tips and allows you to make a profile for your pet making it easier to travel with them in case of an emergency.

Birkett describes the warning signs of a dog suffering heat stroke as

“Heavy panting, a fast pulse rate, the inability to get up. Look at their gums, if their gums are a brick-red color, that’s definitely a sign of heatstroke," said Birkett.

Birkett says the best thing you can do if your dog is facing a heatstroke is to get access to a water hose and start cooling your pet down with it and shares the warning signs of a dog facing heat stroke.

The American Red Cross sells first-aid disaster supply kits you can get your hands on ahead of summer travel.

You can also stock your car up with a tire inflator, extra oil and coolant.

Stay safe when you’re on the road.