MOSCOW, Idaho — The Moscow Police Department is ⁢urging community members to avoid leaving children and pets ⁤alone in ‍parked vehicles as summer temperatures rise.

According to the​ department, even a brief period spent in an unattended car on‍ a hot day‍ can lead to dire‌ consequences for both ⁤young children and animals.

Statistics from the National Safety Council indicate that there ⁢were 39 reported fatalities of ​children due to heat exposure in vehicles in 2024, followed by 15 deaths in⁢ 2025.On average, approximately 37 children under the age of 15 succumb to heatstroke each year after⁢ being left inside cars.​ since 1998, nearly every state has recorded at least one such ​tragic incident.‍ Notably, both 2018‍ and 2019 saw record highs⁣ with 53 child​ fatalities attributed to being trapped in overheated vehicles.

Authorities⁢ stress the critical need for awareness and proactive measures to prevent these heartbreaking incidents from ⁢occurring.