During the period of Tuesday, July 10th through Thursday, July 13th, a marked HCSO Patrol Unit will located at the Hixson Walmart on Highway 153 displaying dual thermometers comparing the difference in temperature from

inside to outside of the vehicle.

During this time, parents and caregivers may easily see the visible difference in temperature and how dangerous it can be to leave a child or a pet unattended in a car.

HCSO Asks Parents to “Look Before You Lock” to Help Eliminate Child and Pet Deaths from Vehicular Heatstroke

Hamilton County, TN – In light of the tragic infant death on Saturday, July 8th, on Tunnel Boulevard, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the citizens of Hamilton County to remember to “Look Before You Lock” anytime you are driving a vehicle with children inside.

Last year, in a concerted effort with numerous community partners, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office took the lead in Hamilton County and unveiled a new initiative focused on eliminating unnecessary child and pet deaths by vehicular heat stroke. The kickoff event took place last August at the Hixson Walmart located on Highway 153.

Vehicular Heat Stroke occurs when children or pets are left in a car where the outside temperature and direct sunlight heats up the inside of the vehicle to a temperature sufficiently enough to effectively cause death in a child or pet.

Parents and caregivers are subjected to many distractions on a daily basis such as cell phones, text messaging, busy schedules, and in-car gadgets and the HCSO is greatly concerned that local drivers are becoming more and more distracted.

People often think that only “Bad Parents” leave their children unattended in hot cars, but the truth is, it can happen to any parent due to a momentary lack of judgment or a moment of irresponsible, distracted behavior.

No child or pet should ever have to die in a hot car due to a parent or caregiver being distracted.

As part of the program, the HCSO created yellow inside removable door decals that can be placed on the inside of the driver door to remind parents to check on their children as they exit the car. Our free decals are available at our West and East Patrol Annexes located at 8395 Hickory Valley Road and 6233 Dayton Boulevard.