Another Toddler Died This Week from This More Common Tragedy

A child died in a hot car Thursday, bringing the nationwide total to 12 such deaths this year. That's three times more than this time last year, an ominous statistic considering summer hasn't even officially started.

These children have died of a condition known as hyperthermia, or an elevated body temperature, sometimes known as heat stroke.

The latest tragedy occurred in Houston, where the temperature reached 100 degrees Thursday. Police say unbeknownst to family members, a 3-year-old boy entered through the front door of a car parked near a home. Police say he climbed into the back seat to retrieve a toy, but because the child protective locks were on, was unable to get out of the car.

Family members found the child unresponsive in the car's backseat 30 to 45 minutes after last seeing him, according to police. They reportedly called 911 and performed CPR.

The child was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

About a third of the hot car deaths of children are due to youngsters, such as the Houston toddler, getting into cars themselves.

This is why safety experts recommend always locking car doors, even if you live in a safe neighborhood. This warning goes for people who don't even have young children, as neighborhood children can wander into nearby vehicles and get trapped.

The other two-thirds of hot car deaths are when parents forget their child is in the back seat, which is what happened June 8 in Louisiana to an 8-month-old baby girl.

Her father was supposed to drop her off at daycare but forgot she was in the back seat.

This type of horrific death, parents accidentally leaving a child in a hot car, is all too common. CBN News spoke to the parents of a child who was killed in this way.

Now they are offering practical tips to prevent child hot car deaths so others won't have to endure the pain they're suffering. Watch their story here.