As parents bundle their children up in the winter to prevent hypothermia, they should also be mindful of a summertime hazard: hyperthermia.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf explains that hyperthermia is an acute condition that occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. Kempf says hyperthermia is of great concern when it comes to leaving children, adults, or pets in a parked vehicle, “The temperature inside a vehicle can rise very rapidly and children of course are very susceptible with their small bodies to that increased core body temperature so it’s very important not to leave children or anything in a vehicle even with the windows down slightly for an extended period of time.”

Kempf advises before buckling in your child into a safety seat that the belt buckles aren’t too hot, teach your children not to play in, on, or around cars, always keep car doors and trunks locked and the keys out of your child’s reach, and to always make sure all children have left the car when you’ve reached your destination.