The heat is almost unbearable and for a child left in the backseat of a vehicle that heat can be deadly.
"It's only going to get hotter as the dog days of summer continue,” Janette Fennell, founder of kidsandcar.org said. “A child's respiratory system heats up three to five times faster than we do and they have a very small window of opportunity. As they get to hot their organs start to fail."
Fennell said last year, throughout the nation, 49 children died as a result of being left in a hot vehicle.
"13 of those 49 have been in the state of Texas,” Fennell said. “Texas likes to break records, but that's not one you want to break.
This year the numbers have already climbed to ten deaths—three of those in the state of Texas.
Action 4 News wanted to test the difference in heat from outside to inside a vehicle. After just five minutes the thermometer measured 120 degrees.
"If we have a child trapped in the vehicle at this high temperature the child will be affected immediately,” McAllen Fire Department Lieutenant Rene Alaniz said.
Alaniz said there are a few simple tips to make sure your child does not get forgotten.
- Put something in the backseat—a lap top, briefcase, or laptop---anything that could be used as a reminder to look in the backseat.
- Set a reminder on your phone
- If your child is dropped off at daycare, make sure the daycare calls you if your child is not dropped off at a certain time.
For more information and statistics go to kidsandcars.org.
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