BENSON — Safe Kids Johnston County is urging community members to prioritize child safety this summer as they raise awareness about the dangers of vehicular heatstroke. The coalition hosted a “hot car” demonstration at a safety event in Benson earlier this month, in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP). With a digital thermometer displaying temperatures of both outside and inside the display vehicle, attendees witnessed the car’s internal temperature reach a sweltering 113 degrees.
“The temperature inside a car can increase by 19 degrees in just 10 minutes,” warned Jennifer Williams, Coordinator for Safe Kids Johnston County. “Young children are particularly vulnerable as their bodies heat up three times faster than adults, and cracking a window does little to alleviate the heat. We urge everyone to join us in preventing this tragic, but avoidable, situation by never leaving children, pets, or the elderly unattended in vehicles.”
The event included a press conference with the North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, who emphasized the importance of heightened vigilance and community awareness.
“Leaving a child or pet unattended, even for a few minutes, can be more dangerous than people realize,” Commissioner Causey explained. “These deaths are largely preventable, and we must take every possible precaution to avoid such unnecessary tragedies.”…