Never Leave a Child Unattended in a Car

Leaving a child alone in a car, for just a "second" while you run into a store can lead to tragedy.

Your car can become an oven in minutes

Even on a moderately cool day, the temperature inside a vehicle can exceed 100 degrees within minutes. When it is 88 degrees outside, lethal temperatures can be reached within 10 minutes or less.

A child's body temperature increases 3-5 times faster than that of an adult and they can become dehydrated within minutes.

Cracking the windows, having a vehicle of a larger size or lighter color does little to reduce the temperature inside your vehicle. Even in a previously air-conditioned car, the temperature increase is rapid.

Always keep vehicles locked and keys out of reach of children

Children have become trapped inside the passenger or trunk compartment.

• Teach children not to play in vehicles
• Teach children to tell an adult if they see a friend playing in a car
• Child safety locks may prevent your child from being able to escape
• Teach children how to get out of a vehicle and trunk -- contact your auto manufacturer to have a trunk release installed
• If a child is missing, check all vehicles immediately