Detroit, July 17, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As summer temperatures reach record highs, it's important to remember the dangers of leaving a child alone in a hot car. Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children.
See video from General Motors and Synaptic Digital at: http://gm.synapticdigital.com
More than 30 children died in 2012 as a result of heatstroke and so far, in 2013, 20 children have already died after being left alone in an unattended vehicle. Parents are sometimes unaware of how dangerous a car can become for a small child in just a few minutes. On a 75 degree day, the interior of a vehicle can reach over 100 degrees in about a half hour. Studies show that the interior temperature will continue to increase about 45 degrees every hour. Cracking a window does not help keep the inside of a car cool.
To prevent additional tragedies, child safety engineers at General Motors, Safe Kids Worldwide and the General Motors Foundation are providing tips for parents this summer, including never leaving a child alone in a car; creating a reminder such as placing something next to your child that is needed at your final destination and taking action by calling 911 if you see a child alone in a car.
Registered journalists can access video, audio, text, graphics and photos at http://www.thenewsmarket.com.