Rankin County sheriff urges vehicle checks ahead of extreme heat

The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department said motorists should check that their vehicles can withstand extreme heat, advising inspections of air conditioning systems, belts and hoses and warning against leaving children or pets unattended in parked cars.

In a Facebook post, the department said drivers should check A/C performance and the cabin air filter before traveling because air conditioning works harder as temperatures rise. The post noted a lack of cooling poses increased risk to children and older adults and people in poor health.

The department warned that heatstroke can occur when a person is left alone in a parked vehicle or enters an unattended vehicle. It said a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s and that even at 60 degrees outside, the temperature inside a vehicle can quickly reach deadly levels.

Officials also urged owners to inspect belts and hoses for bulges, blisters, cracks or cuts and to replace items that show obvious wear. The post included a photograph showing Sheriff Bailey assisting a motorist who experienced car trouble during the high temperatures, the department said. The department encouraged motorists to perform these checks before traveling.