ROSWELL — With temperatures already reaching triple-digits in Southeast New Mexico, the Roswell Police Department and Roswell Fire Department are urging parents and caregivers to be aware of the dangers hot vehicles pose to young children.

“Parents and other child caregivers must raise their awareness of the importance of never leaving children inside unattended vehicles,” the RPD wrote in a release. “The temperature inside a parked vehicle can quickly reach lethal levels in hot, or even warm, weather. Babies and other young children, and pets as well, are not able to escape a hot vehicle on their own.”

The departments urge residents to be cognizant of the fact that all it takes is a brief distraction — trying to hurry through a busy day or dealing with stress or other emotions — to cause a parent or other caretaker to exit a vehicle without thinking about a child who was along on the trip.

“Don’t let a moment of forgetfulness turn into a tragedy,” said the release. “Take whatever steps necessary to remember a child is with you, and certainly never knowingly leave a child in the car for even what you think will only be a brief moment.”

Outside temperatures don’t have to be sweltering to become dangerous for children. Even with an outside temp of just 80 degrees, the inside of a closed vehicle can quickly reach 110 or higher. Under the summer sun, it takes only 10 minutes for the temperature in a vehicle to rise nearly 20 degrees. Leaving a window cracked or parking in the shade are not sufficient safeguards.

Trapped inside a vehicle, a child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult’s. A child can die from heatstroke when his or her body temperature reaches 107 degrees.

Most parents cannot imagine themselves leaving, even accidentally, their child in a hot vehicle, yet statistics show that more than half the instances of child death under these circumstances occur after the child was accidentally or unknowingly left in the vehicle. Remember, young children, especially babies, often fall asleep in their car seats, becoming silent passengers. Rear-facing seats look the same, whether occupied or not, when viewed by someone from the front seat.

The second most common instance of children dying in hot vehicles is when children get into the vehicle on their own to play. Never leave children alone in or around vehicles, and always lock vehicles when you leave them. Do not leave keys or remote door openers where a child can reach them.

For more information and safety suggestions, visit kidsandcars.org.