Gundersen specialist reacts to surge of children left in hot cars

The reason why is often the main question when parents leave their young children in hot cars.

Several stories of that type have surfaced this week across the country with some surviving, and others dying.

Megan Anderson with Gundersen Health System in La Crosse said kids are specifically vulnerable in the heat.

“Their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult,” Anderson said. “The body also doesn’t adjust to the heat as well.”

A New York man charged with the death of his twins who spent eight hours in the car said he thought they were at daycare.

Anderson said planning is vital.

“You need to have talks with your daycare provider, or family or whoever is taking care of the child for the day, so they can call if they don’t show up,” Anderson said.

She also added that you could leave little reminders for yourself by putting an important item in the car like a cellphone or briefcase to ensure you’ll grab it before exiting the vehicle.

Breaking a window to save a child is legal in Wisconsin, provided that you check to see the doors are locked, you look for the vehicle’s owner, and you call law enforcement.