For Immediate Release:
 July 30, 2014

Media Contact:
Erika Benitez



MDFR joins National Heatstroke Prevention Day efforts with a one-of-a-kind vehicular heatstroke demonstration

July 31st @ 12:30 p.m.


(MIAMI, July 30, 2014) – As the summer temperatures continue to rise, so does the number of heat-related deaths nationwide of children left unattended in vehicles. In an effort to raise awareness and educate the community about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars on National Heatstroke Prevention Day, the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR) will host a one-of-a-kind vehicular heatstroke scenario demonstration.

Participants will see and experience firsthand, what happens to a “child” left unattended in a hot car. The “child”, a real-life size pediatric simulator from Gaumard Scientific, is capable of displaying heat-stroke symptoms. Additionally, this state-of-the-art simulator will cry and go under full distress as temperatures rise inside the vehicle, giving a unique opportunity to see the damaging and sometimes lethal effects of hot temperatures on small children. 

As part of this scenario, MDFR’s Technical Rescue Team will simulate a vehicle-extrication and MDFR’s paramedics will demonstrate a resuscitation attempt.

Due to many recent cases of vehicular heatstroke, MDFR’s Medical Director, Dr. Marc Grossman, will be present to speak to the press about this important topic.

So far in 2014, there have been 13 confirmed heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles and five more that are believed to be heatstroke related, but have not yet been confirmed. Since 1998, there have been at least 624 documented cases of heatstroke deaths of children left in unattended vehicles, making heatstroke the number one cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children ages 14 and under.

• 51% of children in unattended vehicles were “forgotten” by a distracted caregiver.
• 31% of the children that have died of vehicular heatstroke are less than one year old.
• Children’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s.


WHO:       Miami-Dade Fire Rescue   

WHAT:      Heatstroke Prevention Awareness Day – Vehicular Heatstroke Demonstration                       

WHEN:      Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 12:30 p.m.
                 
WHERE:    Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Training Center
                  9300 NW 41st Street, Doral, Florida                                  

To ensure your spot in this demonstration, please contact MDFR’s Public Affairs Bureau at
786-331-5200 before 5 p.m., Wednesday July 30, 2014.

MIAMI-DADE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT
9300 NW 41st Street, Miami, Florida 33178
(786) 331-5200 Fax (786) 331-5201
www.miamidade.gov/mdfr
 

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FIRE RESCUE
9300 N.W. 41str Street Miami, Florida 33178
(786) 331-5200