“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.”Zero deaths is the only acceptable number, and the only way we can ensure that happens is by educating our community.”

Las year, 39 children died nationwide after being left in hot cars. Henderson firefighters hope to change that after launching their “Check Your Seats in the Heat” campaign on May 4.

According to fire officials, Nevada has ranked among the top 20 states hardest hit by heatstroke fatalities. Temperatures inside of a car can climb more than 30 degrees in just 10 minutes when it’s hot outside.

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

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