During the hot and humid summer months we hear terrible stories of children dying as a result of being left in a locked vehicle. That is why Michigan Department of Human Services Director Marianne Udow and Michigan Department of Community Health Director Janet Olszewski believe it is the opportune time to remind parents that children should never be left in a vehicle alone.

Each year, approximately 30 children die – nationally and in Michigan – as the result of being trapped in hot vehicles. On a warm, sunny day, even at temperatures as mild as 60 degrees, a closed vehicle can heat up to dangerous levels in minutes.

"Heat-related child deaths are disturbingly high," Udow said. "Many of those deaths occur when a child is left alone in a vehicle on a hot day. Parents may think they could never forget their child is with them, but if a child is being dropped off at school or day care, and that is not part of a daily routine, it can happen."

Children should never be left alone in a vehicle, not even to run a quick errand. State and local prosecutors can file criminal charges of child endangerment against an adult who leaves a child alone in a car, even if for just a minute.

"Sometimes parents are in a hurry and think it will be okay to run into the store or the gas station quickly while leaving children in the car," Udow said. "A vehicle can be a very dangerous place for a child, regardless of what the temperature is outside."

Concern over this issue is not limited to the Department of Human Services. Soaring temperatures have also prompted the Michigan Department of Community Health to draw attention to the dangers of hot weather.

"Temperatures inside vehicles on sunny, summer days can reach dangerous levels within minutes, and leaving children unattended inside can lead to deadly consequences," Olszewski said. "When left unattended in a hot vehicle, it can take just a few minutes for a young child's core body temperature to increase rapidly, causing permanent injury or even death. This is a serious public health issue, and one that is entirely preventable."

There are several safety precautions that parents can take to ensure that children are not injured while in a vehicle. Some of those precautions include:

• Never leave your child unattended in a motor vehicle, even with the windows down.
• Teach children not to play in, on or around cars.
• Always lock car doors and trunks, even at home, and keep keys out of reach of children.
• Watch children closely around cars, particularly when loading or unloading items.
• Always make sure all child passengers have left the car when you reach your destination.
• Don't overlook sleeping infants.
• Be wary of child-resistant locks and power windows and teach older children how to disable the driver's door locks if they unintentionally become trapped in a motor vehicle.
• When restraining children in a car that has been parked in the heat, check to ensure seating surfaces and equipment are not overly hot.
• Upon leaving your vehicle, use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked car and consider using windshield shades in front and back windows.
• Keep rear fold-down seats in an upright position to prevent children from getting into the trunk from inside the car.
• Contact your auto dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism.

"A little prevention goes a long way where children are concerned," Udow said. "The steps you take now to protect your children will not only help them live long and happy lives, but teach them to protect their own children the same way one day as well."