News 12 This Morning, July 1, 2009

AUGUSTA, Ga.--- It's your typical hot sunny day in Georgia, but before Connie Inglett, and her daughter head into the grocery store to grab a few items, they always make sure 2-year-old Brianna Lawrence is right there with them.

"I don't forget that she's in the car. I mean she makes enough noise, even if she's asleep, you know, you get out, you get your purse, you get your bags that you've been shopping. How could you forget your child," Connie Inglett said.

But many people do forget. Last year, about 40 kids across the country died from being left in hot cars.

"In many cases, what's going on here is there's a parent that's just forgotten that there is a child in the back seat. And in about a third of the cases, it's kids that are playing in the vehicles without a parent around and they get locked in and don't know how to get out," Dr. Jim Wilde said.

Dr. Jim Wilde with MCG Health says the temperature inside your car raises about 30 degrees in 20 minutes.

"How long can you leave a child in an oven? Zero is the best answer for that," Dr. Wilde said.

But we saw it happen right here in Augusta. Last August, a six-week-old baby boy died after being left in a car for nearly an hour in almost 100 degree heat. Richmond County investigators say Lisa Marie Morris was charged with murder.

"I think it's sad. People need to be more responsible," Inglett said.

Dr. Wilde says parents should never leave their child in a vehicle, or let them play in an unattended vehicle. He says you should always look in your car before you get out, and always lock your doors.

"I don't think you should leave them in there for any reason. None at all, that's uncalled for," Inglett said.

Dr. Wilde says if a child is left in a hot car for too long, they could get liver, heart, and brain damage and even die.

Doctors say if you see a child left inside a car on a hot day, look around to see if you can find the parents, call 911, and if the child is in distress, you don't have a lot of time to waste, knock on the window, and if the kids don't respond, break the window and get them out.