Kids, Ages 3 And 5, Found In The Cold In Arlington Heights

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — A 3-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl were taken to an area hospital after they were found wandering outside in the potentially deadly cold Wednesday at an Arlington Heights apartment complex. The Cook County Sheriff's office responded to the building just after 2:10 p.m. to find the children, one of whom was not properly dressed for the weather, crying. Both children had skin redness and were hospitalized for treatment of cold-weather related injuries, police said.

Sheriff's officials also helped two vulnerable senior citizens find shelter after they went to the Skokie courthouse in need of assistance in the bitter cold, police said.

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The sheriff's office said it is taking proactive measures during the dangerous cold, which can cause frostbite in just minutes:

• Heightened awareness for homeless in the cold and bringing citizens to warming shelters if
• needed
• Senior citizen home checks in Ford Heights
• Heightened awareness for stranded motorists
• Heightened awareness for Animal Control situations
• Premise checks of public parks for cold exposure situations
• Premise checks of abandoned buildings/houses
• Assisting citizens where needed to limit exposure to the cold

Within the Cook County Jail:

• Two empty tiers have been designated for any discharged detainees who wish to remain if
• they have no place to go in the cold temperatures
• The jail has cold-weather apparel on hand for discharged detainees if needed
• Multiple shuttles have been provided for necessary staff and detainee movement around the compound

Sheriff Tom Dart advises residents to call 911 if their health or safety are at risk during the freezing temperatures.

Photo via Shutterstock