Hot temperatures can cause a spike in crime and accidents. Cookeville Police Major Carl Sells said overheated people can sometimes do things they wouldn’t normally do.
“Tempers flare more readily, anger is easier to come by in hot weather, we’d encourage everyone to step back, take an extra breath, maybe take a drink of cold water before letting that anger get them into some trouble that otherwise they wouldn’t have,” Sells said.
Higher temperatures also bring an increase in hot car deaths for children and pets. Sells said at least 19 children have died nationwide in hot cars this summer.
“What might seem like just a brief time away from your car with the kids inside and the windows rolled up, temperatures elevate very, very quickly, can very easily produce heat stroke or worse,” Sells said.
Sells said residents who see a child in a hot car should call law enforcement immediately.