Much of the country is experiencing a heat wave at the moment, and while Southern and Southwest states are somewhat accustomed to lofty temperatures, parts of the East Coast and Northeast are enduring record-breaking highs. As a result, parents may not realize just how hot the interior of a vehicle can become in the direct sunlight, or how quickly. It doesn’t take long for a vehicle’s cabin to reach temperatures in excess of 140 degrees; combine that with the fact that children’s circulatory systems don’t handle the heat as well as a full-grown adult's, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Interestingly enough, The AP points out that most of the more recent deaths have occurred not when parents intentionally leave their children in a vehicle alone, but rather when kids climb into a car to play and can’t escape. Law enforcement officials recommend always checking the back seat of your vehicle before leaving it, locking the car once you’re outside and making sure that your vehicle’s keys are in a secure location to prevent accidents.