Sheriff’s Department Launches “Look Before You Lock” Campaign

Over the past few years more than 600 people have died after being left in a hot car.

Tragically, most of them were infants.

Experts says vehicular heat deaths of children are mostly caused by carelessness—not bad parents.

And more and more organizations are starting prevention programs.

Hamilton county is now on board.

It just seems so preventable! But busy schedules and a change in daily routines cause the deaths of innocent people in hot cars every year.

The Hamilton county sheriff’s department, along with Emergency services, Children’s hospital and WalMart have now started a

campaign to make people think about the danger.

SHERIFF JIM HAMMOND “There’s been over 600 young people and people, sometimes the elderly…don’t forget the elderly ..Are left in vehicles in the hot sun…where the temperature goes up ..and we have a tragic death occur because of it.”

We’re told the danger from heat death is incredibly quick to develop.

CHRISTINA REUILLE, NEWS 12 METEOROLOGIST “When it is hot outside..it gets hot in your car pretty fast. When its 90 degrees outside..ikt takes just 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 109 degrees.”

KEN WILKERSON, DIR. HCEMS “The first child in the nation to die this year was in January , Rossville, Georgia…with a temperature of 52 degrees outside..but it was a sunny day.”

DR. DARWIN KOLLER, MEDICAL DIR., CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL “From my standpoint, if you have a vulnerable innocent child that’s dying from something that’s completely preventable, it’s definitely serious enough to focus on and talk about.”

The local groups are using the acronym “ACT”–meaning avoid the situations, create reminders like leaving a cell phone in the back seat near a child, and take action. That means if you see it happening..say something.

Walmart has started it own campaign.

JEFF EVERSOLE, WALMART “We started this about 2 years ago and its “Look before you Leave”..and you’ll be able to go into any Walmart store in the U-S and you’ll find this sign actually taped to the front door.”

If you want more tips on avoiding heat deaths, call the sheriff’s Department.

And McKamey Animal Services reminds you not to leave you pets in hot cars, either. They’re in just as danger as humans.