Wilma's Wednesday Words of Wisdom



"Safety First"

Aw hell. I really can't take an ounce of credit for this wisdom. I mean, if you ask Google, all kinds of folks are preaching about safety. From baby products to driving schools.

In fact, it is my Dad who is Safety Boy around here.

I realized that I hadn't shared our BARK BuckleUP safety registration cards.

 We all got one for the glove box, in addition to stickers for the car window.

That, coupled with something we read in an email, prompted this weeks topic.

See, this sudden hot weather kinda snuck up on us, but one thing that is very important.  Never stay in the car when your people go into stores and stuff!

Mom can't find the original source of the info, but here is something from PAWS Rescue has some really good safety info.

Pets in Hot Cars

You've probably heard news reports of dogs suffocating inside cars on warm days. Here are suggestions for educating people about leaving pets in cars, and what to do if you see a pet in distress.





The dangers:






It takes only minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to succumb to heatstroke and suffocation. Most people don't realize how hot it can get in a parked car on a balmy day. However, on a 78 degree day, temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees -- and hit a scorching 160 degrees if parked in the sun!






Even when the outside air temperature is in the 60s, temperatures inside some vehicles can reach the danger zone on bright, sunny days. So many experts recommend not to leave pets or children in parked cars even for short periods if the temperature is in the 60s or higher.






Rolling down a window or parking in the shade doesn't guarantee protection either, since temperatures can still climb into the danger zone. And if the window is rolled down sufficiently, the pet can escape. Plus if a passer-by claims he or she was bitten through the car window, the pet owner will be liable.






What about leaving the dog in the car with the air-conditioning running? Many people do this, but tragedy can strike -- and it has. For example, in 2003, a police dog in Texas died after the air-conditioning in the patrol car shut down and began blowing hot air. The air system's compressor kicked off because the engine got too hot. Many cars, including modern models with computerized functions, are prone to the same problem. In August 2004, a North Carolina couple lost two of their beloved dogs, and nearly lost their third dogs, as result of a similar failure. They had left bowls of water and ice in the car, and the air-conditioning on, during their shopping trip of less than 30 minutes.






Animals are not able to sweat like humans do. Dogs cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated air to breathe, animals can collapse, suffer brain damage and possibly die of heatstroke. Just 15 minutes can be enough for an animal's body temperature to climb from a normal 102.5 to deadly levels that will damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems, often leaving the animal comatose, dehydrated and at risk of permanent impairment or death.

Speaking of safety, I better get going. there are severe storm warnings and Tornado watches in the area.