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A new law that went into effect on July 15, 2019, means that those who take certain steps to rescue children locked inside hot cars will be provided some legal immunity in Pennsylvania.
On May 16, Gov. Tom Wolf signed a bill protecting “Good Samaritans” from liability for damages if they believe a child is in imminent danger, providing that the “Samaritan” has made a “good-faith effort” to contact the vehicle owner and emergency responders, and that the person uses no more force than necessary.
“Sunshine streaming through car windows turns the vehicle into an oven, and lowering the windows slightly is ineffective at keeping the temperature low,” said Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs for AAA East Central. “This law, and last year’s law for pets trapped in hot cars, will go a long way towards reversing the alarming upward trend of hot car fatalities.”
The National Safety Council reports 51 children died last year of pediatric vehicular heatstroke, which is more than any other year on record. Heat rapidly overwhelms the body’s ability to regulate temperature.
Children under the age of four are especially vulnerable because their bodies do not have the same internal temperature control as an adult’s body and can heat up three times to five times faster.
Heatstroke can occur when the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees, and even with the windows slightly lower, temperatures inside a car can reach 125 degrees in minutes.
While carmakers continue developing new safety features to assist parents, AAA offers the following safety tips:
• Never leave children or animals unattended in a car, not even for a short period of time.
• Create reminders and habits for yourself, such as leaving an item needed at your next stop in the back seat. That way, you have to turn around to get the item and will be reminded of a child or pet in the car.
• Look to make sure all child passengers have left the vehicle after it is parked.
• Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway, to prevent children from climbing into vehicles and becoming trapped.
• Never leave keys and/or remote openers within reach of children.
For pets trapped in hot cars:
According to PennDOT, Gov. Wolf signed House Bill 1216 into effect last fall, which gives police officers and first responders the authority to enter a vehicle and retrieve a cat or dog that is in immediate distress.
While it is similar to the child rescue law in that officers or emergency responders must have a good-faith and reasonable belief that imminent danger is at hand, House Bill 1216 is different in that it does not give civilians the authority to enter a vehicle by force.
PennDOT advises those who see a dog or cat in a vehicle that appears to be in distress to contact local authorities by dialling 9-1-1, and to not enter the vehicle themselves.
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