As temperatures climb in late summer, it is critical to take precautions to keep everyone safe.

Ellen Walston, Safe Kids Pitt County coordinator at ECU Health Medical Center, spoke with WITN about summer safety and said taking even small steps can make a big difference. This is especially important with temperatures reaching the high 90s and even into the 100s, making late summer one of the deadliest times of the year. Precautions include making sure everyone is wearing sun screen, using umbrellas and having a place to cool down.

Walston also said parents must look around their cars before locking their doors to make sure there are no children inside.

“Never leave your child alone, even for one minute,” Walston said. “Cars heat so quickly. Those UV rays do come right into that car and just heat a car so quickly. That is just something that we really have to be cautious of because children’s body temperatures are quite different from adults.”

Watch the full segment on WITN