As August — the warmest month of the year — approaches, the Washington State Patrol is urging adults to never leave young children unattended in a car.

In 2013, at least 19 children nationwide have lost their lives after being left unattended in a motor vehicle during sunny weather. To date, none of these deaths have occurred in Washington.

Even with the windows cracked two inches, the internal temperature of a motor vehicle can exceed 125 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes. On sunny days, when the temperature outdoors may be in the 60’s, the trapping of heat inside a motor vehicle can drive internal temperatures in excess of 110 degrees within one hour.

Heatstroke occurs when the internal temperature of the body exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A child’s regulatory system is not as efficient as an adult’s, and their body will heat up three to five times faster. Damage to cells and internal organs occurs when a child’s body temperature reaches 107 degrees Fahrenheit. Children younger than 4 years old are at greatest risk for heat-related illness.

Call 911 immediately if you observe a child unattended in a motor vehicle. It is a specific crime in Washington to leave a child under 16 years of age in a motor vehicle with the engine running.

Other suggestions offered by the state patrol include:

• Never leaving children unattended in or around a motor vehicle, even for a minute.
• Putting something you will need at your destination in the backseat near the child such as a briefcase, purse, or cell phone. The objects serve as a reminder to collect children
• Always check the backseat before you lock the vehicle and walk away.
• Teach your children that a motor vehicle is not a playground.
• Always lock your vehicle and set the parking brake even in your garage. Keep the keys out of the reach of your child.