We’re getting into summer, school will be out soon and we’ll be heading to the beach and out on that summer vacation road trip to Wally World. Most of us will drive to our destination with our loved ones with us in the car, so it’s important to protect them from the summer heat.

Never Leave a Child Unattended in the Car!!

Not even for the shortest time, just don’t do it. Every year kids are accidently locked in cars or even worse killed from the extreme heat every year. In addition to being horribly unsafe and risky behavior, leaving minors unattended in the car unattended is illegal.

Even leaving the window slightly open or cracked is unacceptable.

A locked car sitting in the summer sun quickly turns into an oven, temperatures can climb from 78 degrees to 100 degrees in just three minutes, to 125 degrees in 6-8 minutes a cracked window may only slow the rate in which it takes to reach a deadly temperature. Leaving the window partially open can also lead to a situation in which a pet or child can be strangled by inadvertently closing the window on their neck.

Teach Kids That Cars Aren't Toys

Teach your kids not to play in or around vehicles. Ensure that the doors and trunk to your vehicle are locked at all times when you’re not actively driving.

Immediately Report Unattended Children or Pets to the authorities

Each year, more than 9,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for injuries that occurred while they were unattended in or around motor vehicles. If you see a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, stay calm Write down the make and model of the car, the license plate and report it immediately to the authorities. Child endangerment and pet cruelty is against the law.

If officials don’t respond fast enough and you want to break into the vehicle, remember that you can be prosecuted, but given the circumstance it’s unlikely. Having a witness is helpful but not required, document the rescue, break a window on the opposite side of the car to prevent injury to the occupant and be prepared to provide first aid and move the child or pet into a shaded area and rehydrate as needed until the authorities arrive.