Sheriff’s Corner
by Sheriff Scott Henriod White Pine County
Submitted July 2nd, 2018
Last week’s Sheriff’s Corner I wrote about the consequences and dangers of leaving children inside vehicles unattended. I was encouraged by several individuals this week to issue the same warning about leaving pets inside a vehicle unattended. Although there is no hard data that is tracked to actually determine how many animals died due to heat stroke causes from being left inside a vehicle, it is only estimated that it’s around 1000 dogs each year die from this cause. When a dog is hot they begin to pant and drool. If they are suffering from heat stroke you could see them vomit or become weak, collapse or even go into a seizure .Leaving the window down on your vehicle doesn’t allow the dog to have sufficient air movement for them to cool down. Nevada revised Statutes 574.195 makes it unlawful for a person to leave a cat or dog in an unattended motor vehicle during periods of extreme heat or cold. There are exemptions to the law which are for law enforcement, dog catchers, dogs used for hunting and several others. You also need to take care of your dogs while they are outside. Make sure they have plenty of water, shade and are properly groomed to reduce heat. Remember as a dog owner it is our responsibly to provide the care they need. The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who sees this type of neglect to call and report it so a tragedy can be prevented.
Submitted June 25th, 2018
When it comes to children and their safety it has always been a top priority for law enforcement. This Sheriff’s Corner I would like to address the concerns about leaving children in a vehicle unattended. With summer upon us and warmer weather now taking place in our area we need to be aware of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. An organization called Kids and Cars reports that an average of 37 children will die each year in hot cars. These deaths happen when children are forgotten in a car, accidently lock themselves in a car or trunk, or in a small number of cases, when a child has been intentionally left in a car. Children’s body temperature rises 3 – 5 times faster than an adults, resulting in a quicker onset of heat stroke. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes. Even if a vehicle is parked in the shade heat stroke can occur inside a vehicle when the outside temperature is 58 degrees. In the state of Nevada under NRS 202.575 it is unlawful for a child 7 years and younger to be left inside a vehicle unattended. The law states that a child 7 years and younger must be supervised by a person who is 12 years and older. The exception to this law is if the operator of the vehicle accidently locks the doors to the vehicle while the child is inside. The violation for the offense is a misdemeanor. Every year in the state of Nevada several children die do to being left inside a vehicle unattended. The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who sees this type of behavior taking place to call immediately to report the incident. Let’s make sure that or children are safe and that they have a great and fun summer.
