Summer Trips with ChORUS
Life after retirement is wide open, just like the road that may be calling to you. Maybe you’ve always wanted to travel around the country and see the National Parks, maybe you just want to visit the grandkids or friends you haven’t seen in a while. Let us show you some key tips to keep yourself and your passengers safe on the road this summer.
Summer Safety Vehicle Tips
Summer means rising temperatures and your air conditioning is getting lots of use to keep you cool in your vehicle. Before your summer road trip, check to make sure your air conditioning is working properly. As we age we become more sensitive to heat, making sure the A/C is in peak condition before the summer temps peak is important to avoid heat-related illness.1 Heatstroke becomes more prevalent in the summer. Never leave a person or animal alone in the car with the car off. Vehicles can heat up quickly, even if the outside temperature is in the 70s. Be especially diligent with children in vehicles, because a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s body temperature.1 Car temperatures can become deadly in 10 minutes or less.2
Car Seat Safety
If you are lucky enough to take a grandchild with you on your summer road trip, double check their car seats and booster seats are correctly installed and that any children riding with you are in the right seat for their ages and sizes. See NHTSA’s child passenger safety recommendations to find the right seat for your child’s age and size.1 When securing the child in the car seat, chest clips should be at armpit level and straps should fit snugly.4