With temperatures rising across the state, AAA is reminding drivers about the dangers of leaving children and pets in hot cars.
On average, a child dies every seven days from being left in a hot car, with many more emergencies and hospitalizations in addition to that number.
AAA Idaho spokesman Matthew Conde said a child’s body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s, and the internal temperature of a car can increase by more than 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes, which is a recipe for disaster, especially during the summer.
AAA Idaho urges parents to always bring their kids into a store, because even a quick errand can take longer than you think, especially if you’re distracted and in the comfort of an air-conditioned building.