EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — With temperatures already climbing into the 90s across the Borderland, local officials are reminding the public about the life-threatening risks of leaving children and pets in hot cars, even for just a few minutes.
El Paso Animal Services hosted its annual “HeatSafe” awareness event on Friday, May 30, in which volunteers demonstrated how quickly temperatures inside a parked vehicle can rise.
“At any given moment, I can get myself out of this vehicle. I can open the door and just get out or I can turn on the vehicle and roll the windows down or turn on the air,” said Gina Ramirez, field protection manager with El Paso Animal Services. “I have that full control. Our pets don’t have that control. Our kids don’t have that control”
Officials say heat-related calls for service increase in the summer, especially involving children, pets and even elderly people left unattended in vehicles.
Heat is one of the leading weather-related causes of death in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Pets are also at risk, with El Paso Animal Services regularly responding to reports of animals left without shade, water, or left in hot vehicles.
This event aimed to raise awareness and provide life-saving resources.
“We got to remember that an animal, a dog and a cat’s body temperature is at an average of 103, which is five degrees higher than our body temperature,” said Alberto Ortiz, supervisor of field operations for Animal Services. “Now imagine the inside temperature, inside a vehicle of 120, with the body temperature of that of an animal a 103, that’s only a recipe for disaster.”
Officials add that leaving a window cracked open or the air conditioning on can still be dangerous. They urge the community to act quickly if they see a pet or child in distress inside a hot vehicle. People can call 311 for non-emergencies or 911 for emergencies.
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