With temperatures recently climbing into the 90s in Greene County, AAA urges motorists to keep children, pets and vehicles safe during what is expected to be some of the hottest weather so far this season.

“In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up by 20 degrees and become deadly. We are urging parents and caregivers to not underestimate the risks that excessive heat can pose and to understand that hot car deaths are preventable,” Megan Cooper, spokesperson for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said in a news release.

According to NoHeatstroke.org, 38 children on average die from heatstroke inside hot vehicles nationwide each year.

“Despite warnings from safety organizations each year, children continue to die from this preventable tragedy,” the release said.

AAA-The Auto Club Group provides the following safety tips to help keep children safe:

Soaring temperatures in a vehicle can also place pets at risk. Never leave an animal in a parked car, even if the windows are partially open. Even on pleasant days, a vehicle can quickly reach a temperature that puts a pet in danger.

Extreme heat can also pose risks to a vehicle. AAA recommends drivers check five key areas to help their vehicle safely survive higher temperatures:

Even with proper preventive maintenance, summer breakdowns can still occur. AAA recommends every driver have a well-stocked emergency kit in their vehicle. The kit should include a flashlight and extra fresh batteries, first-aid supplies, drinking water, non-perishable snacks for people and pets, car battery booster cables, emergency flares or reflectors, a rain poncho, a basic tool kit, duct tape, gloves and shop rags or paper towels.

To help keep vehicle emergency kits fully stocked this summer, local AAA branches are providing free AAA Summer Driving Kits. To find a local AAA branch, visit AAA.com/Branches.

Individuals do not have to be a AAA member to pick up a kit.

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