Essex County OPP officers are making extra patrols looking for motorists who leave children or animals in unattended vehicles in the hot weather.
Officers will be utilizing OPP Operation Freeze, a community based program aimed at promoting safety in the community which is being piloted this summer.
They are handing out Mac’s Stores Froster vouchers as part of a positive ticketing program to help citizens beat the heat.
Here are some tips from OPP on vehicle children and pet safety:
-Never leave children or pets inside a car for even a short time even in mild weather.
-Your car can become an “oven” in less than 15 minutes causing serious bodily harm or death to a child or animal inside.
-Always lock your car and warn children never to play inside it unattended.
-Install “lock-release” mechanisms inside your trunk to enable a child to get out safely if accidentally locked inside.
-If you can’t take your child or pet with you when you leave the vehicle, don’t bring them and make other safe arrangements for them.
Police say it is important to remember that leaving your vehicle running with the keys in the ignition, is a possible fire hazard and provides criminals with an easy target.
