On hot days, the temperature inside vehicles can climb rapidly and may exceed 100 degrees. Be very careful with children and pets -- even when you're at home and the car is parked.

• Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down.
• Teach children not to play in, on, or around cars.
• Always lock car doors and trunks -- even at home -- and keep keys out of children's reach.
• Always make sure all child passengers have left the car when you reach your destination. Don't overlook sleeping infants.
• When securing your child in a safety restraint system in a car that has been parked in the heat, check to make sure seating surfaces and equipment (child safety seat and safety belt buckles) aren't too hot.
• Use a light covering to shade the seat of your parked car. Consider using shades on windows.

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Weather Service, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Citizen Information Center, Washington State SAFE KIDS Coalition