Warning Issued To Avoid Leaving Children, Pets In Hot Cars: SPD

STAMFORD, CT — With temperatures expected to exceed 80 degrees in Stamford the next couple of days, the Stamford Police Department is advising residents to be extra careful about leaving small children and/or pets in parked vehicles. Though not heat related, a puppy left in a parked car in Stamford over the weekend choked to death when it jumped out of an open window and hanged itself by its leash.

"Last year we had several investigations in which parents had small children left unsupervised in a vehicle while they went shopping or forgot they were in the vehicle," wrote Stamford police in a Facebook post. "Parents and guardians need to be aware that this can be a problematic situation for the child and parent. Each year we hear more of parents leaving children unattended in vehicle during hot days which can lead to the death of a child and the arrest of the parent. This is the last thing we want to see in Stamford or anywhere else so please be cognizant of your children and at no time leave them in a car unattended."

Within minutes, the inside of a vehicle parked in 85-degree heat can exceed 100 degrees and approach 120 degrees within half an hour, according to Stamford police.

In Connecticut, the charge for a parent or guardian who leaves a child unattended in a vehicle (CT Statute 53-21a) is a Class D felony.

Image via Shutterstock

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