Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even with the windows rolled down or the air conditioning on. A child’s body temperature can rise 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s. A core body temperature of 107 degrees is lethal.

Come up with ways to remind yourself that a child is in your vehicle. Here are some suggestions:

• Place a briefcase, purse or cell phone next to the child’s car seat so that you’ll always check the back seat before leaving the car.
• Put a teddy bear in the passenger seat as reminder to check the back seat before you exit the vehicle.
• Have your childcare provider call you if your child doesn’t arrive.
• Write a note and place it on the dashboard of your car, or set a reminder on your cell phone or calendar.
• If taking your child to day care is not part of your usual routine, call your spouse or another caregiver to confirm you’ve dropped off your child.