Leaving Kids In A Hot Car

Lately temperatures have been in the upper 90's, but that's nothing compared to the temperature inside a car.
Studies show that even when the temperature is in the 70's, it can be 115 degrees inside a car, and continue to climb.
Meteorologist Jan Null says, "In the case of children who get hypothermia their bodies heat up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult's. So, in a situation where it might not be fatal for an adult, it can very rapidly become a life and death situation for a child."
Mother Esther Lopez says, "Do you like sitting in the car for five minutes you know, whenever it's 97 degrees outside. No. So, it's not okay for them to be left in there either."
An average of 36 children die from being left in hot cars every year.
Father of three Bill Held says children look to you to meet all their needs.
He can't imagine leaving his kids in the car without air conditioning and the windows rolled up.
Held says it doesn't seem like people care enough about their kids.
He says, "These kids, they're priceless. They have no price, you know. That hundred-million-dollar diamond, you could throw it on the ground and break it compared to your children. So, to do anything with your children that you wouldn't do with that hundred-million-dollar diamond, doesn't make any sense at all."
"It's awful, I mean it's just thoughtless. I can never leave him in the car whether it's to you know, run in the gas station or anything else. So, I can't imagine leaving them in there for any length of time," says Lopez.
Held says some people might think it's okay because they were left in a hot car as a child.
But he and Esther Lopez say it's never okay.
In Chattanooga, Mandy Odom WDEF News 12.
Officials say to call 9-1-1 if you see a child left unattended in a car.
Also remember not to leave pets unattended in a car either.