BURRILLVILLE – It’s August, and we are all very aware that temperatures during the month combined with the bright sunshine can present hazards – which most people are not thinking about when cruising in convertibles.
Heat stroke can happen to anyone exposed to the sun and extreme hot weather conditions, especially little kids. Kids are riding in the backseats and not only are they dealing with sun and heat exposure, they are contending with the winds that wrap around the back of the vehicle, and this too can cause damages to the skin and eyes. Windburn is a real thing and happens more often than most people are aware of while riding in convertibles. The sun and wind can damage skin and eyes, and when you combine this with hot and humid temperatures, it’s a real threat to little kids. Even adults are susceptible to these hazards and conditions with these summer weather situations.
My suggestion is that you limit exposure to the sun while cruising in convertibles, and make sure kids are out of harm’s way as well. It takes two minutes to put a convertible top up and keep the sun directly off of you. Another precaution that helps keep your skin and eyes safer from direct sunlight is wearing a baseball cap or sun hat while riding in convertible vehicles. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and avoid long durations of time in the sun.
Have a safe and healthy August when cruising in convertibles!
Jim Weicherding is a Burrillville resident, and the founder and creator of an award-winning traffic safety effort Seasons of Safety. Weicherding contributes kids’ coloring cartoons, which can be printed and used to help parents discuss safety issues with their children. He has a long list of police officers and firefighters in his family and has worked with law enforcement and firefighters in a creative public safety capacity for more than two decades.
