Toddler dies in Las Vegas after being left in hot car
A 3-year-old boy died Saturday afternoon in Las
Vegas after he was left in a parked car during
triple-digit heat, the Metropolitan Police Department
said.
Just before 5 p.m., police responded to
reports of an injured child by the Grandview hotel on
9940 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Metro spokesman Lt. Carlos
Hank said.
Roger Price, who is with Metro’s
special victims unit, called the boy’s death “a tragic
accident.”
A large family was visiting from out
of town and about a dozen children were with the group,
he said.
The boy went unaccounted for, Price
said. Alcohol doesn’t appear to be a factor.
Price said there was no exact reading on the car’s
internal temperature, but said that with the 114 degree
highs, the car’s temperature could reach as high was 170
degrees.
He said the windows in the vehicle were
up, and the child was in a car seat. Price said the boy
was in the vehicle for “an extended period,” — at least
an hour — but he couldn’t specify exactly how long.
Upon arrival, officers determined that the
3-year-old was suffering from heat-related injuries
after being left in a car, Hank said. The child was
pronounced dead at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena
campus.
Saturday’s high temperature reached 114
degrees, tying the record set in 1949 for the date.
Metro’s abuse and neglect section is investigating.
The last time a child died after being left in a
vehicle in Las Vegas was in August 2015, when 4-year-old
Seth Franz was accidently left in a hot car for at least
two to three hours. He was found unresponsive in the
4600 block of Welter Avenue, near East Sahara Avenue and
Nellis Boulevard, according to police.
Franz’s
grandfather was running errands and forgot the boy was
in the car, police said. Seth was taken to Sunrise
Hospital and Medical Center, where he was declared
deceased.
Tips for keeping kids safe
Children should never be left in cars, even if a window
is cracked open, according to The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Cars can quickly heat up to
dangerous temperatures.
— To remind yourself that a
child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car
seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed
animal in the front with the driver.
— When leaving
the car, check to make sure everyone is out of the car
and do not overlook children who have fallen asleep in
the car.
The CDC also recommends wearing
lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing;
staying in an air-conditioned place as much as possible;
and staying hydrated.