Comfort K-9s Lead Campaign to Prevent Hot Car Tragedies

Parents and caregivers are reminded to "paws to check" their vehicles before locking up

Comfort K-9s from around the state are borrowing the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association social media accounts to help raise awareness about the dangers of vehicular heatstroke and to share important safety reminders aimed at preventing these avoidable tragedies. K-9 Mouse, a senior pitbull mix who recently joined the West Warwick Police Department, is the lead dog in the #PawsToCheck initiative. Her message is simple,"Your car heats up fast. I can't open the door, and neither can your kids. Paws to check every time."

"As we move through the hottest weeks of summer and into the early fall, the risk of vehicular heatstroke remains dangerously high," said Chief Thomas F. Oates III, Chief of the Woonsocket Police Department and President of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. "Children and pets alike are extremely vulnerable to rising temperatures inside parked vehicles. These tragedies may not always be intentional, but they are always preventable. That’s why it’s critical to check the entire vehicle every time before locking up."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 1,000 children have died from vehicular heatstroke since 1998. In 2024 alone, 39 children lost their lives due to being left in hot vehicles. The interior of a parked vehicle can heat up by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. Even on a mild day with temperatures in the 60s, the inside of a car can quickly reach 110 degrees.

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Contact:

Cara Cromwell

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cara@cromwellpublicaffairs.com