Twin Infants Die After Being Left In Hot Car In Virginia

CHESTERFIELD, VA — Two infants died in Virginia after they were unintentionally left inside a hot car, according to multiple reports.

The twin infants, a boy and a girl, were 5-months-old. The Richmond Times Dispatch reports that the babies were left inside the car for an extended period of time on Thursday. According to the Dispatch, police could not say what temperature the car was and did not provide information on how the children were left in the car.

Police did say they believe the children were left inside the car unintentionally.

Authorities responded around 2:30 p.m. Thursday and found the infants unconscious. One of the twins died soon after arriving at the hospital and another died several hours later, according to the Dispatch.

"They were beautiful. Bundles of joy. Blessings," a neighbor told NBC-12.

Children and, especially, babies, are especially vulnerable when left inside hot cars. Their bodies dehydrate quickly, and they can't regulate their body temperature. Their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults', according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

In 2018, at least two other hot-car deaths have been reported in the United States. A baby boy died in Miami after his father forgot him in February. In April, a South Carolina 10-month-old died after his father forgot to drop him off at a childcare center.

In many cases, a parent completely lose awareness that the child is in the car, David Diamond, professor of psychology, molecular pharmacology and physiology at the University of South Florida told ABC News in 2016.

The NHTSA offers some tips for parents:

• Look before you lock: Get into the routine of always checking the back seats of your vehicle before you lock it and walk away.
• Leave yourself a gentle reminder: Get in the habit of keeping a stuffed toy or other momento in your child's car seat, then move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when the baby is in the back seat. Or, place your phone, briefcase or purse in the back seat when traveling with your child.
• Get in the practice of routine checks: If someone else is driving your child, or your daily routine has been altered, make a call to make sure the child arrived safely at the destination.
• Keep your keys out of children's reach: Nearly three in 10 heatstroke deaths happen when an unattended child gains access to a vehicle, the agency has said.

Beth Dalbey contributed to this report.

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