How To Keep Kids, Pets Safe During Summer Heat In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX, VA—With temperatures reaching near or above 90 degrees this week, it's worth a reminder that extreme heat can have serious consequences for people and pets alike. We've rounded up information on heat-related illnesses and how to respond to kids and pets left in hot cars in Fairfax County.

Heat-related illnesses and prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 600 people across the U.S. are killed by extreme heat each year. Extreme heat causes the body to work harder to balance its temperature. Overexposure or too much physical activity in extreme heat can spur heat-related illnesses.

Some groups of people are more prone to heat-related illnesses than others. These include seniors 65 and up, people with chronic conditions, outdoor workers, infants and children, low-income residents and athletes.

The county's Office of Emergency Management offers the following preventative tips:

• Have air conditioners serviced regularly.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Dress in loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight and helps maintain normal body temperatures.
• Reschedule outdoor activities in extreme heat conditions.
• Do not leave children, disabled people or pets in a hot car.
• Learn first aid.
• It's crucial to know when dangerous heat conditions develop. Sign up for Fairfax alerts and follow the National Weather Service's DC-Baltimore office and the Fairfax County emergency blog to be notified of heat advisories and safety precautions.

The CDC explains symptoms of heat-related illnesses and what to do in those situations.

How to help kids and pets in hot cars

Leaving children and pets in hot cars is never ok, officials say. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, temperatures in vehicles can rise quickly. An outside temperature in the mid-60s can cause a car's temperature to reach above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature inside can increase by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes.

If you see a child in a hot car, Virginia's Good Samaritan law protects someone helping in an emergency situation. If a child is unresponsive, call 911, get the child out of the car and spray him or her with cool water. If the child is responsive, stay with the child until help arrives or ask for help locating the driver.

Pet owners are responsible for providing adequate food, water and shelter for pets under Virginia law. But if you see a pet in a hot car, you'll want to flag down a first responder. According to Virginia code, law enforcement officers, firefighters or animal control officers "who in good faith forcibly enters a motor vehicle in order to remove an unattended companion animal that is at risk of serious bodily injury or death" are not liable for property damage to the vehicle.

In the video below, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue's own therapy dog Wally demonstrates safety for pets in the summer heat.