Even when it doesn't feel that hot outside, a parked car can become a sauna in minutes. That's why no child should ever be left alone inside a car, even for a moment, according to <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=safekids" target="_blank">Safe Kids Worldwide</a>. Even when the outside temperature feels mild, it only takes minutes for the temperature inside a car to rise to dangerous levels.
Children are especially vulnerable to the heat. In a hot car, a child's core body temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult's temperature would.
To protect children from the heat, heed this advice from Safe Kids and the <a href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/bouncelink.aspx?shortcut=aap" target="_blank">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>:
<ul>
 <li>Never leave a child alone in a car, even with the windows cracked. </li>
 <li>Teach children not to play in, on or around cars.</li>
 <li>Lock the doors and trunk when your car is in the driveway or parked near the house.</li>
 <li>Keep the keys where children can't reach them. </li>
 <li>Make sure all of the kids get out when you reach your destination. </li>
 <li>Before you put kids in the car, check the temperature of the seats and seat belt buckles. </li>
 <li>Keep rear fold-down seats closed so kids can't get into the trunk. </li>
 <li>Teach older kids how to use your car's emergency&nbsp;trunk release so if they get locked in the trunk they can get out. </li>
 <li>If your child gets trapped inside the car, get him or her out and call 911 right away so emergency personnel can check for signs of heatstroke.</li>
</ul>
Reviewed 7/3/2023

Summer safety rules for kids and cars

Cars can very quickly get much hotter than the outside air. Children should never be left alone in them.