Summer might be a favorite for travel and fun, but it’s important to stay safe from torching temperatures in Texas by always checking the backseat and making sure kids are protected from the heat.
As temperatures climb into the triple digits during the Texas summer, conditions can become deadly for people, pets, and especially children.
According to the Texas Heatstroke Task Force, children have died in hot cars even in moderate temperatures, but most deaths occur in the months of June, July and August, making prevention even more critical during this time.
The web site, NoHeatstroke.org, shows 948 children have died due to Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH) since 1998, most because they were forgotten by a caregiver. So far in 2023, eight have died.
Depending on what part of Texas individuals are in, that heat can feel differently as locations like El Paso, Lubbock and Amarillo experience a dry heat versus cities like San Antonio that experience humidity. Triple digits are not rare in the state.
“The record high temperature for Texas is 120 degrees, which has occurred at three different locations across the state,” said Victor Murphy with the National Weather Service.
The NWS generally issues Heat Advisory product when Heat Index values reach 105 degrees. The NWS issues Excessive Heat Warnings when these values reach the 110-to-115-degree value.