San Diego County CA- As temperatures rise, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to raise awareness about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars.
Even the best of parents can overlook a sleeping baby in a car. NHTSA says one child dies from heatstroke nearly every ten days from being left alone in a hot car. On an 80-degree day, a car can reach deadly levels in just ten minutes. A child dies when his or her temperature reaches 107 degrees.
Thursday, July 31st is National Heatstroke Prevention Day. We want parents and caregivers to ask themselves this question every time they get out of the car: Where’s baby? Look before you lock. The San Diego Sheriff’s Department also invites the public to spread the word by sharing our posts on Facebook and Twitter on this day.
Under Kaitlyn’s Law, it is illegal to leave a child under the age of six alone in a car anywhere in California. The law is named in memory of a six-month old Kaitlyn Russell. Her babysitter left her alone in a hot car nearly 14 years ago.
Here are some safety tips to keep your children safe:

• NEVER LEAVE A CHILD ALONE IN A CAR even if the windows are partially opened, even for just a minute.
• Make it a habit to check the back seat every time you leave the car.
• Keep a teddy bear or stuffed animal in the back/car seat. Move the teddy bear to the front seat when you place the child in the seat as a visual reminder.
• If it is your turn to drop off a child at daycare, ask a partner/spouse/friend to call you to make sure the child was not left in a hot car.
• Always lock the car and keep the keys out of reach.
• Teach children that a car is not a play area.
• If you see a child left alone in hot a car, call 911 right away.

Remember: Where’s baby? Look before you lock. Your pets deserve the same consideration.