The tragedy of heatstroke is 100 percent preventable, yet it continues to strike across the country. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department wants to remind parents and caregivers: “Where’s baby? Look before you lock.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children’s body tempratures can rise up to five times faster than adults.

LASD passes along the following information:

Heatstroke

You live by your daily routine and it helps you get things done. Be extra careful, though, if you have to change any part of that routine. This is more likely to happen when you, your spouse/partner, or caregiver who helps with your children, forgets that a child is in the back seat.

Disasters Happen Quickly

At other times, you are on your way home and realize you need to stop in at the store and pick up one or two things for dinner. So, you leave your child unattended, thinking, “I’ll just run into the store for a minute,” which is illegal in many States. Even cool temperatures in the 60s can cause the temperature to rise well above 110° Fahrenheit inside your car. The inside temperature can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes.

Prevention Tips

* Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.

* Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area.

* Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open.

* Keep a large teddy bear or other stuffed animal in the car seat when it’s empty. Move the teddy bear to the front seat when you place the child in the seat as a visual reminder.

* Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away.

* If you are dropping your child off at childcare, and normally it’s your spouse or partner who drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure the drop went according to plan.