Triple digit temperatures are here and safety advocates say it's critical to always check the backseat to make sure kids or pets are never left alone in a hot vehicle.
“With those Arizona temperatures, no amount of time is safe in a car, not even a minute,” said Amber Rollins, executive director of the organization Kids and Car Safety.
Rollins said cracking the windows is not enough to prevent cars from reaching potentially deadly temperatures inside.
“When you take into account that a child’s body temperature rises three-to-five times faster than an adult's, and dogs really can’t regulate their body temperature either, you’ve got a recipe for a disaster in literally minutes,” Rollins said.
Rollins’ organization reports 51 children have died in hot cars in Arizona since 1990.
Rollins said if you ever see a child alone in a car, call 911.
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It’s not exactly a dry heat these days: Triple-digit temps plus the added humidity means it's not only hot out there, it’s sticky. And for those who exercise or work outdoors, the effects of that kind of heat can feel different. -
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for the Phoenix area Monday through Wednesday. -
Schools across Arizona are starting back up for the year. Some start this week, while others have already been in class for a few days already. And despite the relative cooldown to start this week, it’s still plenty hot out. -
In the future, Phoenix will not only see more intense high temperatures, but longer heat seasons, climate projections show. -
On the hottest days, thinner air can make it harder for aircraft to get off the ground safely. Airlines may have to lighten the load by removing passengers or cargo, or carrying less fuel.
