As I sit and type this on an early May afternoon, it's 44 or so degrees, gloomy, and misting in areas of the Twin Ports.

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Certainly not weather that many would associate with heat related issues like heat stress or heatstroke.  But even at 44 degrees, that temp is not far off from when people and pets can start having encountering trouble.

The particular concern this time of the year comes to people or pets left in vehicles.  Of course, the biggest concern is young children being left unattended, even if for a short period of time.

Heatstroke can cause damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles.  Even lighter colored vehicles will significantly warm up when sitting in the sun turned off with the windows rolled up.  At right around 57 degrees outside of a vehicle, internal temps can spike high enough to cause heatstroke.

May 1st was National Heatstroke Prevention Day and the NHSTA put together a nice list of reminders as it starts to warm up outside. One of the big reminders is to always check your backseat for kiddos when leaving your car.  This might sound obvious but in our fast-paced world of distractions, forgetting a child in the car can and does happen.

The Saint Paul Police Department recently posted a warning on this exact topic, and it's timely as the temperatures will start to trend upwards for the season.

Make sure you check out the full NHTSA Heatstroke Prevention Page for other tips and facts about heatstroke to help keep yourself and loved ones safe this summer.

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