As the weather gets warmer, the Municipal Emergency Services Authority of Lancaster County (MESA) reminds parents and caregivers to not leave children in hot cars. Vehicle-related heatstroke is one of the leading causes of non-crash, vehicle-related death for children age 14 and younger in the United States.

A busy parent or caregiver may unintentionally forget that a quiet or sleeping child is in the back of the vehicle. These deaths can even occur at home.

Internal vehicle temperatures can rise quickly and become up to 50 degrees warmer than outside air temperatures. So even if it is a cool day outside, a vehicle may still pose a threat to a child. A child's body temperature increases three to five times faster than an adult's.

Parents and caregivers should form a habit of looking in the back seat every time they get out of a car. They should never leave a child in a vehicle unattended, even for a minute, and they should always lock the car and put the keys out of reach of children.

Warning signs of heatstroke include red, hot, and moist or dry skin; no sweating; a strong, rapid pulse or a slow, weak pulse; nausea; confusion; or strange behavior. If a child exhibits any of these signs after being in a hot vehicle, the caregiver should call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. They should also quickly spray the child with cool water or with a garden hose. They should never put a child in an ice bath.

MESA provides 911 emergency medical services previously provided by Northwest EMS to member municipalities in northwest Lancaster County. More information is available at http://www.mesalancasterpa.gov.