A 30-year-old mother was arrested by the Evansville Police Department for allegedly abandoning her child outside all day during a heat advisory with the heat index reaching 101 degrees.
According to officials, the child, whose age has not been given by police, was observed playing outside since 7:00 a.m. on Monday, as reported by WFIE. When the child began screaming for their mother, Lissandra Denis, outside their apartment door, someone called 911.
Officers were on the scene at approximately 3:30 p.m., over eight hours after the child was initially spotted outside, according to the affidavit. When they arrived, it was 96 degrees outside with a heat index of 101 degrees.
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According to the arrest report, witnesses did not see Denis check on the child at all during the day, and the child was denied access to food or water during this period.
Denis allegedly told authorities that she let her child play in the yard while she did laundry, but she did not specify the precise time.
Denis was arrested for neglect and on Monday, it was reported that she was being held without bond.
Meanwhile, Tri-State hospitals report that the high temperatures have caused a rise in people seeking treatment for heat-related ailments, according to WFIE.
Doctors at Ascension St. Vincent informed the publication that they have seen roughly twenty patients since the heat wave began. Deaconess officials said that three people have been admitted due to exposure and heat-related illnesses.
Doctors advise everyone to stay indoors if possible.
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Emergency Medicine Physician Dr. Kailyn Kahre adviced, “If you need to do stuff outside or do outdoor activities, try to do it early on in the morning or later on in the evening when the sun is getting ready to set. If you do have to be out, please make sure you’re taking frequent breaks drinking plenty of water and whatever you’re doing outside try to do it as much as you can in the shade to help keep from being overheated.”
According to officials, it’s also necessary to check on senior neighbors and use sunscreen when outside.
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