VICKSBURG, Michigan — Officials are reminding parents to be vigilant after a 3-year-old boy was found dead in a car outside a Kalamazoo area grocery store Tuesday afternoon.
The boy was left unattended after the father went inside the Family Fare for groceries, said Kalamazoo County Undersheriff James VanDyken. It is believed the boy's death was heat-related.
It is not clear at this time if prosecutors plan to charge the father in the boy's death.
This death marks the 20th hot car death in 2024, according to nonprofit Kids and Car Safety.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's. It can take just 10 minutes for a child’s body to reach 104 degrees, causing heatstroke.
Heatstroke becomes fatal when the body’s temperature rises to 107 degrees.
Experts warn parents to never leave children unattended in any vehicles, especially during the summer months.
How to ensure your child is safe in the car:
- Keep car keys safely out of reach
- Check the backseat of your car before leaving
- Keep your car locked when not driving it to avoid the possibility of a child entering the car
- Call 911 if you see a child inside of a locked car
Learn more about keeping your children safe around cars here.