Comal County Pct. 1 Constable Charlie Motz knows what happens when a parent or caregiver leaves or forgets a small child in the back of their vehicle.
In July, four children died in Texas within a five-day period after being left behind in hot cars. Texas leads the country in the number of pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths.
“As parents and caregivers, we are charged with the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable, our children,” he said. “We do so by not getting in a rush and protecting our youth from being left behind in hot cars.”
Through Friday, the public can visit a special display located just outside his office at 145 David Jonas Dr., New Braunfels, which illustrates the temperature difference between the outside of a parked vehicle and its interior.
The exhibit is courtesy of Safe Kids San Antonio and University Health. Additional information is provided by the Texas Heatstroke Task Force and noheatstroke.org.
Parents and caregivers are reminded to ‘ACT:’
A – Avoid heatstroke. Never leave a child alone in a vehicle even for a moment. Always lock unoccupied vehicles and keep key fobs away from children.
C – Create reminders. Place a cellphone, shoe or work ID badge in the backseat when a child is present. Remember to always ‘look then lock’ before walking away from the parked vehicle.
T – Take action. If there’s an emergency call 9-1-1 immediately.
Motz reminds the public it’s illegal in Texas to leave a child under the age of seven alone in a car for longer than seven minutes unless they are with someone age 14 or older.
Those who rescue a child from a hot car are legally protected if they follow steps outlined in Penal Code Sec. 22.10 Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 92A.
