Leaving children unattended is never a safe option, regardless of where they are – whether it’s at home or at school, but most especially in parked cars during hot days. Follow these tips to establish safe habits and responsible routines that will keep you and your little ones secure at all times

• Never leave kids alone in vehicles – not even for “just a minute.” We’ve mentioned this in the prevention tips above but it bears repeating. Temperatures rise quickly inside cars parked in direct sunlight on hot days; this can cause a child serious injury or death within minutes of being left unattended – even on milder days.
• Place reminders in your car to help you remember to check for children at all times. Even sticky notes on the dash will help remind you of kids in your car.
• Keep car doors and trunks locked when not in use to prevent children from entering the vehicle without supervision.
• Teach children that cars are not a safe place to play and that they should never play in or around parked vehicles.
• Make it a habit to always check the backseat of your vehicle before leaving it, even if you think there is no one seated there.
• Develop a routine for dropping off and picking up children from daycare or school, and make sure that all caregivers are aware of the routine and follow it consistently.
• Place a reminder item such as a bag, briefcase, or cell phone in the back seat next to your child as a reminder to check the back seat before leaving the car.
• If someone else is transporting your child, such as a babysitter or family member, make sure they are aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions to ensure the child’s safety.
• If you see a child alone in a car, call 911 immediately.
• Never let children play with keys or leave them within reach of children, as they can accidentally lock themselves in the car.
• If a child goes missing, check the inside and trunk of all vehicles in the area, even if they are locked.

• Properly secure a child in a car seat, with the harness straps snug against the body and at or below shoulder level. The chest clip should be at armpit level for infants and toddlers, who have narrow chests; it should be at mid-thigh level for older children, who have wider chests. Infants must ride in rear-facing seats until they reach age 2; toddlers must travel in forward-facing seats until they reach age 4 or weigh 40 pounds (18 kilograms). All kids need to stay buckled up until age 12 or 135 pounds (61 kilograms).
• Keep vehicles well-maintained to prevent breakdowns or malfunctions that could result in a child being left unattended.