Heat is a leading weather-related killer in the U.S. Every summer, children and pets die from hyperthermia because they were left inside of parked vehicles.

Friday, May 24, is National Heat Safety Awareness Day. This summer, the Arlington Police Department has teamed with Code Compliance Services to remind parents, caregivers and pet owners that Texas heat requires extra safety inside vehicles.

Beat the Heat, Check the Back Seat - Keep these safety tips in mind:

• Never leave a child or pet unattended inside of a vehicle, even with the windows down. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise quickly within minutes.
• Make sure all children have left the vehicle when unloading. Watch carefully for sleeping infants inside of the vehicle.
• Lock vehicle doors and trunks. Keep keys and remote entry devices out of children's reach.
• If a child is missing contact 911.
• Make sure the seat and belt buckles are not too hot before securing a child inside of a vehicle.
• Leaving a child or pet unattended inside a vehicle is a class C misdemeanor. A person commits an offense if he or she intentionally or knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than five minutes, knowing that the child is younger than seven years of age and not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is 14 years of age or older. Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle is also a form of neglectful supervision that is investigated by Child Protective Services.
• If an animal is seriously injured, owners could face a charge of cruelty to animals.
• Take action. If you see a child or animal unattended inside of a vehicle, call 9-1-1.
• The Animal Services Center encourages responsible pet ownership. Learn more by visiting the Animal Services Center at webapps.arlingtontx.gov/tmp/animals. For more about heat dangers, visit the National Weather Service at www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat.

Print the poster.