Media Advisory
NCDOI requests that outlets or editors notify viewers/listeners/readers about this event prior to Friday so that families can make plans to attend.
As temperatures continue to soar across North Carolina, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will host a demonstration to remind families of the dangers of leaving children and pets inside cars.
“It only takes a matter of minutes for temperatures inside your car to reach dangerously high levels,” said Commissioner Causey. “One child’s death is one too many. I’m asking all families to ‘Look before you Lock’ and make sure you never leave a child or pet in a hot car by accident.”
Commissioner Causey, who also serves as the chair of Safe Kids North Carolina, will host a hot cars demonstration at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 22, at Pullen Park, 520 Ashe Ave., Raleigh, N.C. 27606.
The event will take place on the Stage and Event Lawn, which is located behind the ticket office. The media is invited to attend and cover the event.
During the demonstration, Commissioner Causey will show how hot the inside of a car can become as he melts marshmallows and chocolate on the dashboard to make “s’mores.” At the same time, a large digital thermometer will simultaneously display the temperatures inside and outside the parked car to show how quickly temperatures can reach life-threatening levels.
On average, 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle. Last year, 23 children died.
So far this year, 10 children have died after being left in a car. One of the deaths occurred in North Carolina, where a 1-year-old girl died in Mebane earlier this month.
All of those deaths were preventable.