Tips for driving in heat with kids

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Statistics show an average of 38 children in the U.S. die in hot cars each year due to heat stroke.

A 5-month-old infant was found dead in his father's vehicle last week in Portsmouth - the father had never dropped the infant off at daycare and the child spent several hours in a hot car.

According to Safe Kids USA, even when temperatures are in the low 80s, a car can heat up to deadly levels in just 10 minutes.

Parents should follow these tips to keep children safe, especially during warm weather months:

• Never leave a child in a vehicle even if you're running a quick errand
• Create a reminder: for example, get a teddy bear and put it in your car seat when the baby is not there. When you put the baby back in, put the bear in the front seat next to you.
• Set an alarm on your cell phone, especially if taking a child to daycare is out of your routine
• Get help: ask your babysitter or daycare provider to call you if the child is absent
• The no-playing rule: teach toddlers and older children to never play inside of a car
• Call 911 if you ever see a child alone in a hot car