An important reminder about car safety

As every parent knows, it takes time to put a child into a safety seat and take him or her out again each time you get into and out of the car but during the hot summer months it is particularly important to take the time. It could save your child's life.

"Children are our most precious commodity. We need to keep them safe," said Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn. "A child left in a hot car can die from hyperthermia or suffer severe heat stroke which can cause permanent brain damage."

According to Kid's N Cars, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce non-traffic related injuries or deaths that occur when children are left unattended in or around a vehicle:

•At least 34 children died in hot cars in 2001.

•Even when the outside temperature does not feel hot, the temperature inside a car can reach over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

•Hot cars are especially dangerous for infants and young children because their bodies have not developed the ability to cool down by sweating which means their core temperature rises three to five times faster than adults.

•Death occurs when the core temperature of the body reaches 105 to 107 degrees.

Anyone who sees an infant or small child left in a vehicle, can call 911 if the responsible party does not return within five minutes or sooner and if they fear the child is in eminent danger, says Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Jim Irene, a crime prevention officer.