Parents issued urgent heatwave car advice after five children die in just one month

Following the UK's hottest day of the year so far, when temperatures exceeded 34C on Tuesday, one parenting safety expert has shared her tips on keeping children safe in hot vehicles.

So far this year, nine children have tragically died in the United States after being left alone in vehicles, including in California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, New Jersey, and North Carolina. According to Kids and Car Safety, a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting children and pets in motor vehicles, five of these incidents occurred in June alone.

Katherine Walker, Service Development Manager at National Childbirth Trust (NCT), told the Mirror: "Babies and young children are more sensitive to the sun than adults so should be given extra care, especially during heatwaves.

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"Parked cars can get hot very quickly and babies should never be left inside them. If a baby gets too hot in the sun they are at risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, as characterised by a high temperature and being sick. Your baby should also still be producing plenty of wet nappies and it could be a sign of dehydration if they are not."

How to keep a baby cool

• Offer frequent drinks

• Fully breastfed babies may need to feed more often at the breast

• Formula fed babies may need to have some additional cooled boiled water as well as their normal milk feeds

• Dress babies in light, loose clothing, or even just a nappy

• A tepid bath may help your baby feel cooler

• There may be local public places which are cooler than home – consider the library, an indoor shopping centre, or a shady park

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that most hot-car deaths happen when a caregiver accidentally forgets a child inside the vehicle.

Experts emphasise that hot-car tragedies can happen to any parent or caregiver - even the most attentive ones. Disruptions in routine, such as a parent who doesn't usually handle day care drop-offs, can lead to devastating consequences if they become distracted and forget a child is in the back seat.

"It sounds crazy, but sometimes people get out of routines or are distracted, especially in today's world. There's lots going on in the news, lots going on with families," said Kathy Wall, director of Safe Kids Palm Beach County, in an interview with CBS News.

On average, 38 children die each year from heatstroke after being left in vehicles. Since 1990, at least 1,134 children have lost their lives in hot cars across the US, while roughly 7,500 others have survived but suffered injuries, according to Kids and Car Safety.

While there's no specific, publicly tracked annual report on hot car deaths in the UK, information suggests the number of such incidents is relatively low compared to other countries, particularly the US.

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