Law enforcement show what it's like to sit in a hot car

INDIANAPOLIS – Two members of law enforcement  showed the dangers of leaving children and pets in the car during a Facebook live demonstration Monday.

Indy has seen temperatures nearly reach the 90s for the past few days, and Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine and Wayne Township Capt. Michael Pruitt said they wanted people to see first hand what happens when children, adults and pets are left in hot cars.

The two sat in the car without air conditioning and described to their audience what the experience was like. They even completed the scene with a baby doll strapped into a car seat.

"It was 75 degrees when I drove in this morning,” said Pruitt. “I shut my air conditioning off to see if I could tolerate the drive. It was uncomfortable, even at 75 degrees. and now we're up by 90 degrees today. and even though we have clouds, we're miserable."

According to Kidsandcars.org, about 37 children die each year from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside vehicles. In 2017, five children have died in cars, the organization finds.

"I want to emphasize to people, we have all the windows up, no air conditioning, the sun is shining, and we've been in this car 21 minutes,” said Perrine. “I'm already miserably hot. A baby wouldn't be able to take this heat. So 20 minutes, and your baby is in critical danger."

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Perrine and Pruitt’s live streaming was cut short because their iPhone shut down due to overheating.

Indiana law states if you see a child left in a hot vehicle, you can use reasonable force to break a window to get the child out, Perrine said. Medical personnel should be called immediately following.

Monday afternoon firefighters with the Wayne Township Fire Department removed a 6-month-old child from a hot car after the mother accidentally locked her keys in the car. 

Engine 85 working to remove a 6 mo old child locked in a hot car this afternoon. Mom accidentally locked the keys in the car. Child is ? pic.twitter.com/eo0GUg7o9z

— Wayne Twp Fire Dept (@Waynetwpfire) June 12, 2017

A new state law going into effect July 1 states a person who forcibly enters a vehicle to remove an animal will be responsible for only half the cost of damages to the vehicle.

MORE | IACC, IMPD rescue dog from hot car | Families, group call for action following hot car deaths

You can watch the Facebook live in the video player below: