The hot summer sun is a welcome arrival for those looking to spend their days outside, but it can also be dangerous. Anyone who's stepped into their car on a summer day knows just how hot they can get when left in the sun. Unfortunately, some people still leave pets or even children alone in overheated vehicles, sometimes with tragic results. Whether planning a road trip or simply heading out for groceries, be aware of the dangers of leaving loved ones in the back seat in the hot sun.

The problem is heating up
It may seem unthinkable, but the fact is that drivers leaving pets and children in the back seat while they run errands is more common that you'd think. Even if you're just planning on stepping inside a store for a few minutes, the heat building inside your car can be deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that parents leaving their kids in parked cars for too long resulted in 19 heat-related fatalities in 2014. To help combat this threat and raise awareness, the NHTSA launched National Heatstroke Prevention Day July 31 to remind parents of the dangers they and their youngsters face. 

According to SafeCar.gov, a child is susceptible to a fatal heatstroke reaction once his or her temperature reaches 107 degrees Fahrenheit – and parents may be shocked to learn that car interior temperatures can rise to these dangerous levels even on relatively mild days in the 60s or 70s. 

Awareness is cool
Preventing such tragic occurrences is often as simple as taking an extra moment of awareness before heading inside. Drivers are urged to remind themselves of their child in the back seat – consider leaving your purse or wallet in the back seat, which will require you to check the rear of your car when you leave. One mother commissioned the creation of a smartphone app called Kars4Kids – an app that sends a reminder to your phone when you leave a child waiting in the car for you. Regardless of how quick you think a jaunt into the dry cleaner's will be, cars can heat up at an alarming rate, and in today's world with parents balancing more on-the-go tasks than ever, it's easy to lose track of who's waiting for you, and for how long.

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