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Sandra Yi reporting Two close calls with children in hot cars have firefighters urging caution during this record heat wave.
Val Thometz/Salt Lake City Firefighter: "CHILDREN BEING LOCKED IN CARS IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN. REAL TRAGEDIES HAVE HAPPENED AND PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT NOW."
A woman Friday accidentally locked her two small children in her car at the height of the afternoon heat.
That follows Thursday's incident in which a 5 year old boy was taken to a hospital after being left in a car where temperatures reached 130 degrees.
In that case, the boy's parents are facing child abuse charges.
Firefighters say it happens often and they're urging parents to be careful with the little ones and even pets. After all, they know first hand how dangerous the heat can be.
Val Thometz/Salt Lake City Firefighter: "IT SEEMS LIKE THE HEAT REALLY AGGRAVATES CONDITIONS."
The record heat has firefighters on alert. They say one of the more common problems is kids in hot cars. Like the disturbing case Thursday of a 5 year old boy locked inside a car in a thrift store parking lot. A store manager managed to open the door and get the boy out before it was too late.
Kiley King/ Rescued Boy From Car: "HE WASN'T SPEAKING OR ANYTHING. HE SEEMED REALLY DISORIENTED."
Another case in Sugarhouse Friday could have been just as serious, when a woman accidentally locked her keys and two young children inside her car. Paramedics broke the window and got the kids out in minutes.
Val Thometz/Salt Lake City Firefighter: "THE TEMPERATURES STARTED TO HEAT UP, BUT THE MOTHER KNEW THE CONDITIONS WERE GETTING WORSE QUICKLY."
Val Thometz/Salt Lake City Firefighter: "I THINK WE GOT THERE IN TIME TO PREVENT ANY KIND OF DAMAGE OR HARM TO THE CHILDREN."
The heat can also take a toll on firefighters who are hard at work this time of year. Crews at a training exercise take a lot of heat in the 90 plus degree weather.
Jack Tidrow/Salt Lake City Firefighter: "WITH ALL OUR GEAR,WE HAVE OUR AIR PACKS, AND ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT, IT ADDS ABOUT 60 MORE POUNDS TO YOUR BODY WEIGHT. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO STAY HYDRATED."
Crews cool down with lots of water and always watch for signs of heat exhaustion.
Jack Tidrow/Salt Lake City Firefighter: "ONCE YOU HAVE ALL YOUR GEAR ON, YOU FEEL TWICE AS HOT AND THAT'S BEFORE YOU START DOING ANYTHING. AND ONCE YOU'RE WORKING HARD, IF YOU KEEP IT UP, HARD PACE FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU REALLY NEED TO WATCH EACH OTHER."
Paramedics say if you exercise outside, do it when it's cooler. They say they respond to a lot of calls of people running during the hottest part of day and passing out.
