Extreme Valley heat has experts saying extra precaution need to be taken when children are in the car

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- As sweltering heat bears down on the Valley residents are being reminded of the dangers of leaving a child or pet in the car.

"Never ever leave a child in a car, in a vehicle unattended," said Carlos Flores, Valley Children's Hospital.

This week the Office of Traffic Safety reported one child in Arkansas lost his life in a van with an outside temperature of only 88 degrees.

"We know that the inside temp of hot car will be at least 30 to 40 degrees hotter than the ambient temperature outside," said Flores.

With Valley temperatures reaching and surpassing 110 degrees outside this week, it can easily reach 150 degrees in the car.

"It only takes a few minutes at that temperature for a child to succumb to the heat," said Flores.

On average nationwide 37 kids die per year from being left in the car.

For those who think cracking a window for a small child or pet left in the car makes any kind of a difference a car can still read as high as 141 degrees.

We caught up with parents who wanted to avoid the hottest time of day to run errands.

"Everything I do now is just me constantly thinking of him. So it's hard for me personally to forget that I'm taking him somewhere," said Alan Zonkel, parent.

Ronnie Saldivar is shopping between summer school drop off and his son's swim lessons. His six-year-old Jordan may be a talker, but Saldivar makes it a point to look before he locks.

"I just always keep looking back, I try not to forget. I always turn, you know, keep turning try to keep an eye on him if he falls asleep."

A child's temperature rises three to five times faster than an adults.

"If you see a child in the car dial 911-- if you have to make an emergency at that time go ahead, because what's going to happen to that child is they're going to have some brain damage, internal injuries, even death," said Victor Taylor, California Highway Patrol.