DES MOINES, Iowa — Over the last 25 years, more than 1,000 children have died in hot cars nationwide, according to the Des Moines Police Department.
As a hot Iowa summer kicks into gear, there's a renewed push from local health experts and law enforcement officials on the dangers of leaving kids or pets in hot cars.
Dr. Jessica Zuzga-Reed, a pediatrician at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, warns that parents must be on the look out for heat stroke if children are playing outside.
"The temperatures have gone up so quickly in the last two weeks, and as children are out of school and families are busier and traveling, the number of things that are on any parents mindset for the given day have increased exponentially," Zuzga-Reed told Local 5. "It's much higher risk this time of year."
Heat stroke occurs when the body's temperature rises rapidly. In children, a body temperature above 104 degrees may coupled with other symptoms, like having seizures or not being alert.
"When children are left in a vehicle unattended and unable to unbuckle themselves and get out, the temperatures can rise very quickly," Zuzga-Reed added.
That's where the biggest piece of advice comes in: Look before you lock.
Parents, grandparents and caretakers should always check the backseat before exiting the vehicle.
Des Moines police add that if you see a child or pet in a car, especially in duress, call 911 immediately. The sooner you call, the better the chance for survival.
In some cases, there may be times where you can act without fear of repercussion.
"If you find yourself in a spot where you think you need to break that window to save that child's life, it's very unlikely that there be any kind of a criminal repercussion for that," Sgt. Paul Parizek said.
Iowa does not have any laws that specifically address children left inside cars, but Parizek said you could still be charged with child endangerment for doing so.