On average, a child dies from heatstroke in the back seat of a parked car every 10 days, and the death toll typically rises to two per week from May to September, according to the International Parking Institute.

Julie Hettinger, Community Health Planner for the Geary County Health Department says that this year alone there have been 18 heat related child deaths.

“On a day that it’s only 72 degrees, the temperature inside the car can increase 30 to 40 degrees in just an hour, but 70% of that occurs within the first 30 minutes; it really can only take less than 10 minutes for the car to heat up,” said Hettinger.

Hettinger says she uses the A.C.T. model to help parents remember their children in the back seat of their cars.

A – Avoiding heat stroke related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in the car. This includes keeping your car locked when parked at your home so if kids are out playing they can’t get in to the car alone.

C –  Creating reminders; making sure you don’t forget they’re back there when you are driving. Hettinger suggests leaving a purse or cellphone in the back seat to create those reminders.

T – Take action; if you ever see a child alone in a car call 911.

Hettinger says the Geary County Health Department does offer help with parenting skills and other services if needed.

For more information visit https://www.jcgchealthdept.org/.