With summer temperatures on the way, leaving kids locked in a vehicle can be deadly.
"There are cases of children dying on days as cool as 70 degrees Fahrenheit," said lead author Catherine McLaren, MD, clinical instructor in emergency medicine, in Consumer Reports. The interior of a car sitting in the sun can reach 140 degrees.
Here are some tips from www.KidsAndCars.org to keep your loved ones - kids and pets safe.
* Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.
* Get in the habit of always opening the back door of your vehicle every time you reach your destination to make sure no child has been left behind.
* Keep a large stuffed animal in the child's car seat when it's not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. It's a visual reminder that a child is in the back seat in a child safety seat.
* Make sure all child passengers have left the vehicle after it is parked.
* When a child is missing, check vehicles and car trunks immediately.
* If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
* For additional information about ways to keep children safe in and around vehicles, visit our website at www.KidsAndCars.org.