Keeping Children, Pets Safe with Hot Weather Arriving

Bedford Police Chief Robert Bongiorno and the Bedford Police Department put out an advisory to local communities about keeping children and pets safe during the warm weather months, particularly when animals are inside a vehicle.

The Bedford Police Department, as well as others across the state, routinely responds to incidents in which children or pets are accidentally left in a car or when a passerby calls police after seeing a child or pet in a vehicle.

Local police and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration remind residents of the following:

• Always Look Before You Lock

• Always check the back seats of your vehicle before your lock it and walk away.

• Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat.

• If someone else is driving your child, or your daily routine has been altered, always check to make sure your child has arrived safely

In just 10 minutes, a car’s interior temperature can rise 20 degrees. Even with an outside temperature of 60 degrees, the inside of a car can reach 110 degrees. If a child’s body temperature rises to 107 degrees, it can be fatal.

“The Bedford Police Department is committed to the safety of all the children in our community,” Chief Bongiorno said. “If you make a mistake, don’t panic and don’t delay. Call us right away, and we will come help.”

Also Be Careful with Pets

A recent article published by the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals cited a dog’s normal body temperature ranges from 101.5 to 102.2 degrees. Anything above this places a dog at risk -- in that regard, pets and humans are similar! You would not leave a person in a hot car, and you should not leave your pet in one either.

An outside air temperature of 75 degrees can rapidly push the inside a car past 118 degrees. A dog’s brain could already be in the early stages of irreparable damage from heat stroke once temperatures reach between 107 and 108 degrees.

Temps Outside vs Temps Inside a Vehicle

When it’s 75 degrees outside, it’s 118 inside your car

When it’s 77 degrees outside, it’s 123 inside your car

When it’s 81 degrees outside, it’s 138 inside your car

When it’s 90 degrees outside, it’s 143 inside your car

When it’s 94 degrees outside, it’s 145 inside your car

“As first responders, our primary concern is for safety and security of our residents, including our four-legged ones,” Chief Bongiorno said. “It’s far too easy to lose track of time while shopping or running errands, and we want you to be mindful of your pet’s health as the temperatures rise.”

It is also a good idea for residents who choose to bring their pet with them in the car during the summer to bring plenty of water to drink.