Summer is finally here.
The season of sun, sand and surf officially arrived just after 6 p.m. Central time, making June 20th the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Many families celebrated the summer solstice with picnics, bonfires, and trips to the beach. Goodness knows they had ideal weather for their outdoor adventures. Currently, much of the country is baking under a mini heat wave.
Today’s high in our neck of the woods reached a sizzling 94 degrees. Throughout the Midwest and along the East Coast, Mother Nature showed little mercy, frying those who ventured outdoors in temperatures near 100 degrees.
The steamy weather gave many children and their parents the chance to have a blast cooling off at public pools, in backyard sprinklers and at city splash pads. Unfortunately, not all families celebrated the first official day of summer with fun and games.
In Kentucky, an 8-month-old boy died in a hot car after his father allegedly forgot to drop him off at daycare. According to local police, the tot was found dead strapped in his car seat.
Reports say the baby’s dad admitted to placing his son in the car seat, and then driving to work, about five miles from his Louisville home. Hours later, the dad told authorities that he returned to his vehicle and found the boy’s lifeless body inside.
The mercury in Louisville topped 90 degrees, but law enforcement officials say the temperatures inside the car were well over 100. Police have yet to determine how long the infant was stranded in the stifling heat, but said it appeared to be at least four hours.
Studies show that more than 530 children have died after being left in hot cars since 1998. In Kentucky alone, 18 youngsters have perished as a result of being forgotten in hot vehicles from 1998 to 2011, according reports.
As much of the nation braces for a massive heat wave this weekend, authorities are warning parents about the dangers of leaving children alone in vehicles.
Bottom line: Don’t do it.
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