With temperatures soaring in the upper 90s and heat indexes already reaching 100-plus degrees, the dangers to children or animals left in cars can be deadly.
The Shreveport Police Department urges citizens not to leave their children or pets alone in a car for even one minute.
The temperatures can quickly soar to over 100 degrees in a hot car, even with the window cracked or completely open.
According to health department statistics, heat exhaustion can occur at temperatures above 90 degrees and heat stroke can occur when temperatures rise above 105 degrees. Heat stroke can cause damage to the brain, liver and kidneys. It can even be fatal.
Leaving a child in a car with the air conditioning running also poses a threat, as someone can quickly jump in the car and steal it, with the child inside.
The criminal penalty for leaving a child alone in a car can be stiff, depending on the circumstances. A person can be charged with child abandonment, negligent injuring or in the worst-case scenario, negligent homicide. If convicted, punishments can range from several hundred dollars in fines to several years in jail.
Animal cruelty charges could apply if an animal is left in the vehicle.
If anyone sees a child or pet left in a car, they are asked to call the Shreveport Police Department immediately.