Over the past 25 years, more than 940 children have died of heatstroke (30 to 55 children die each year) as a result of being left or trapped inside a car.

Here are some other notable trends from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• About 46% of the time, the caregiver intended to drop off the child at a daycare or preschool but inadvertently forgot them in the car.

• Thursdays and Fridays, signaling the end of the workweek, have witnessed the highest number of heatstroke-related deaths.

• In 53% of hot car deaths, someone forgot a child inside a vehicle.

• More than half (54%) of hot car deaths involve children under the age of 2.

These statistics emphasize the urgent need to raise awareness about the dangers of vehicle-related heatstroke and the precautions that must be taken to prevent such tragedies.

Important Precautions – Everyone Can Help Prevent Hot Car Deaths

1. Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. Rolling the windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the interior temperature of the vehicle.

2. Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle — especially the back seat — before locking the doors and walking away.

3. Ask your childcare provider to call if your child doesn’t show up for care as expected.

4. Place a personal item like a purse or briefcase in the back seat as another reminder to look before you lock. Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger's seat to remind you that a child is in the back seat.

5. Store car keys out of a child's reach and teach children that a vehicle is not a play area