Henderson and Las Vegas firefighters launched the sixth annual “Check Your Seats in the Heat” safety outreach campaign with a press conference Thursday, May 19 at the Henderson Fire Training Center.

Because heat knows no jurisdictional boundaries, the Henderson and Las Vegas locals have partnered together to get this crucial message out to the public. The campaign aims to spread awareness and remind motorists of the dangers of leaving children and pets in hot vehicles during the summer months. The campaign also includes the distribution of safety awareness ribbons to serve as reminders to motorists to check their back seats before exiting a vehicle.

Scott Johnson, president of the Las Vegas Firefighters, said, “This effort is so important for everyone to be thinking about during the hot summers in Las Vegas – this tragedy could happen to anyone. We want to do everything we can to get the word out to prevent these tragedies from happening to any family in our communities.”

Temperatures in a vehicle can rise more than 30 degrees higher than outside in as little as 10 minutes. Even a few minutes left in a hot vehicle can have devastating consequences, including brain and internal organ damage. Last year, 24 children died after being left in hot cars, a number that firefighters desperately hope to see diminished.

“It is not safe to leave a child in an unattended vehicle for even one minute,” said Dan Pentkowski, president of the Henderson Professional Firefighters. “This message is incredibly important for every valley resident. Zero deaths is the only acceptable number, and the only way we can ensure that happens is by educating our community. We’re thankful for our partners and volunteers that support this safety outreach effort.”

Firefighters suggest making a habit of leaving your cell phone, wallet or purse in the back seat to get in the habit of checking the entire car before locking and leaving your vehicle. For more information and for additional tips, visit www.hendersonfirefighters.com or www.lasvegasfirefighters.com.