Updated: July 20, 2017

WITH SEVERAL CASES OF CHILDREN LEFT IN CARS IN HOT TEMPERATURES WITH TRAGIC RESULTS ACROSS THE NATION, THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL REMINDS MOTORISTS TO NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN IN AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE. IN THE U-S, THERE HAVE BEEN 23 DEATHS SO FAR THIS YEAR AND 39 TOTAL IN 2016 DUE TO HEAT RELATED ILLNESS. A TWO YEAR-OLD BOY DIED LAST WEEK AFTER BEING LEFT IN A CAR OVERNIGHT IN GATLINBURG. EXPERTS SAY THAT ON A TYPICAL SUNNY SUMMER DAY, THE TEMPERATURE INSIDE A CAR CAN REACH POTENTIALLY DEADLY LEVELS IN JUST MINUTES AND CRACKING THE WINDOW HAS LITTLE EFFECT ON INSIDE VEHICLE TEMPERATURES. 19 STATES, INCLUDING TENNESSEE, HAVE LAWS THAT PROHIBIT LEAVING A CHILD UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE. IN THE 723 CHILD VEHICULAR HEATSTROKE DEATHS FROM 1998 THRU THE PRESENT, DATA SHOWS THAT IN 54% OF THE CASES, THE CHILD WAS "FORGOTTEN" BY THE CAREGIVER. TO AVOID ACCIDENTALLY LEAVING A CHILD IN A VEHICLE, PLACE A CELL PHONE, PURSE OR OTHER PERSONAL ITEM ON THE FLOOR IN FRONT OF A CHILD IN THE BACKSEAT. THIS TRIGGERS ADULTS TO SEE CHILDREN WHEN THEY REACH FOR THEIR BELONGINGS. IF YOU SEE AN UNATTENDED CHILD IN A CAR, CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY.