Tragedy is Another Reminder of the Dangers of the Texas Heat

A recent tragedy serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangerous combination of the Texas heat and children.

Francisco Estrada, a 3-year-old South Texas boy, passed away on Tuesday, July 6, when he got trapped in a disabled family van.  Cameron County Sheriff Omar Lucio says Estrada wandered away from his family and apparently got trapped in the van.  His family found him dead two hours after they noticed him missing.

According to Lucio, his mother will face charges of involuntary manslaughter.

With temperatures in the upper 90's and 100's, a closed vehicle with no A/C can be a death trap, especially for young people and the elderly.

The heat in Texas and many other Southern and Southwest states can be extremely dangerous and every year there are children who lose their lives in similar situations as Francisco Estrada. 

You should never leave a child unattended for any amount of time in a vehicle.  You must also be mindful of any possible hazards such as unused or disabled vehicles that a child could trap themselves.

For more information on heat and summer safety for your children, click here.