Coming heat wave could be dangerous
Published 10:57 pm Thursday, July 23, 2009
LYNNWOOD — A baby boy left in a car outside a Lynnwood nursing home in April likely died because his body temperature soared in the car’s heat, officials said Thursday.
The announcement came as forecasters warned that temperatures this weekend could soar into the 90s, perhaps even topping 100.
Joshua “Joshie” Michael Delacruz died on April 6, a sunny spring day when the high temperature was logged at 69 at Paine Field.
Officials on Thursday warned people to avoid leaving children or pets in cars ahead of the looming heat.
“It doesn’t take long, a matter of 10 to 15 minutes for health issues to become significant,” National Weather Service meteorologist Ted Buehner said. “Even if the windows are completely rolled down, it still can pose serious health risks.”
Temperatures are forecast this weekend to rise about 20 degrees Fahrenheit above the season’s average for this time of year.
The day Joshie died also was unusually warm. Clear skies allowed the sun to beat down on the car where the boy was left.
The Snohomish County medical examiner said Joshie, who was 14 months old, died from probable hyperthermia, the medical term for acute heat stroke. The death was ruled an accident.
Joshie’s mom was briefly arrested at the time by Lynnwood police for investigation of second-degree manslaughter and released. She has not been charged. The police investigation was forwarded two weeks ago to Snohomish County prosecutors, Lynnwood police spokeswoman Shannon Sessions said.
The mother, 21, reportedly left Joshie about 7 a.m. in the car parked outside her work. She told police that she had been running late for work that morning, according to court papers.
Heat stroke and people left in cars are among the areas of concern for officials with the hottest temperatures of the year expected Sunday, Buehner said. People need to stay hydrated and find a couple hours of relief daily in air conditioning, he said.
Wildfire threats also are looming. Western Washington is dry and hasn’t had significant rainfall since May.
Thunderstorms and lightning already are blamed for sparking three small fires in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, forest manager Britt Davis said.
A stage-one burn ban is in effect in Snohomish County. That means there’s no outside burning permitted except in designated areas.
“The bottom line here is that it’s going to be hot and people need to take precautions,” Buehner said.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
