The heat is on throughout the nation with temperatures well into the hundreds in parts of the country. While many often look forward to this time of year (sun, surf and swimming), the scorching temperatures can pose many risks for children, including overheating inside a car.

I have read many articles related to this topic and very often, this turns out to be a horrific accident on the part of a distracted parent who is trying to get somewhere quickly and forgets that the child is in the car. The other common case is a parent who thinks that “a few minutes” in the car while they run inside to pick up something will not cause harm.

According to Safe Kids USA, each year an average of 36 children die from hyperthermia after being left unattended in a vehicle. As hot as it is outside, within 10 minutes the inside temperature of a vehicle will be almost 20 degrees hotter than the outside temperature. After 30 minutes, the vehicle’s temperature will be 34 degrees hotter.

Prevention education is the best advice I can give. Here are some safety tips from us here at Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey to prevent a tragedy like this from happening:

  • Teach children not to play in any vehicle. They are not toys and should enter and exit the car only with an adult present.
  • Set your cell phone or Blackberry reminder to be sure you dropped your child off at day care/school.
  • Set your computer calendar program, such as Outlook, to ask, “Did you drop off at day care today?”
  • Have a plan that if your child is late for day care/school that you will be called within a few minutes. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off little kids at day care.
  • Place whatever necessary items you need to carry inside, such as your purse or briefcase, in front of your child’s car seat on the floor in the backseat. This prompts you to see your child as you reach for your belongings.
  • NEVER leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open.
  • Check vehicles and trunks FIRST if a child goes missing.
  • Dial 911 immediately if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine if a child is in trouble.

For more tips, check out my “Summer Safety Tips” episode of our podcast here at Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey: