As temperatures reach 100 (and above) in Macon and around Georgia and other areas of the country, I’m reminded of the dangers posed by hot cars, especially for small children. Consumer Reports has reported that 15 children have already died this year as a result of heatstroke after being left in hot cars.  This can happen to anyone, and it is just heartbreaking to read the stories of good, loving parents who got unusually stressed or changed their routine and just forgot about a child in the backseat of a car.  Heatstroke can happen very quickly in the summer temperatures, so here are some important tips that can help avoid leaving a child in a hot car:

• Leave a stuffed toy or animal on the front seat as a visual reminder of the child in the backseat
• Put your cell phone, purse or briefcase in the backseat so you have to look in the backseat to remove them at your destination

There are more important tips in the article on Consumer Reports website and another very good resource is kidsandcars.org.