Hot summer sun and children left in or playing around cars can be a deadly mix. Outside heat can quickly raise temperatures inside a car to potentially lethal levels. As a result, the Lee County Safe Kids Coalition is issuing an urgent warning to parents and caregivers to take extra precautions when traveling with children.

"Never leave a child inside a car during the summer heat, even for a few minutes," said Glenda Wolnik, Lee County Safe Kids Coalition. "Cracking the window to let air in does nothing to protect kids from hypothermia. Inside car temperatures rise quickly, and it’s critical that parents never leave kids in cars, even for a moment."

Watch children playing in and around cars this summer. Unlocked cars pose serious risks to children, who are naturally curious and often lack fear. Last summer, 11 children died nationally when they were unintentionally entrapped in the trunks of unattended vehicles.  "A motor vehicle is not an acceptable play area for a child," said Glenda Wolnik, Lee County Safe Kids. "We do not want to see a repeat of last summer’s tragedies."

Since 1987, approximately 22 children have died from heat stroke and asphyxiation after unintentionally becoming entrapped in the trunk of a car. In response, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and General Motors have introduced a new educational guide entitled "Trunks Are For Elephants, Not For Kids," to help educate the public about the dangers of trunk entrapment in hot weather as well as other hazards parked cars may pose to children.

Car trunks can be especially hazardous. Kids get in but can’t always get out. In very hot weather, heat stroke may result and could lead to permanent disability or even death in a matter of minutes.

For a free copy of "Trunks Are For Elephants, Not For Kids," call (239) 332-9571.

• Never leave your child in the car, even with the windows down.  When the outside temperature is 93 degrees Fahrenheit, and your window is down one and a half inches, the temperature inside your car can still reach 125 degrees Fahrenheit in just 20 minutes and approximately 140 degrees in 40 minutes.
• If your child gets locked inside the car, dial 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.
• Make sure you check the temperature of the car seat surface and safety belt buckles before buckling your children in the car.
• Use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked car. Consider using windshield shades in front and back windows.
• Teach children not to play in or around cars.
• Keep the doors and trunk of your car locked when parked in the driveway or near the home. This will prevent children from opening the doors and locking themselves inside the car.
• Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to help prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car.
• Put car keys out of children’s reach and sight.
• Be wary of child-resistant locks. Teach children how to disable the driver’s door locks if they unintentionally become entrapped in a motor vehicle.
• Contact your automobile dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism.

The Lee County Safe Kids Coalition (332-9571) is a part of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the first and only national organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury--- the number one killer of children ages 14 and under. More than 260 State and Local SAFE KIDS Coalitions in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico comprise the Campaign. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, M.D., is chairman of the Campaign and Vice President Al Gore and Tipper Gore are honorary chairs.