The Morning News/NWAonline.net

BENTONVILLE -- The Benton County Sheriff's Office wants to remind parents and caregivers that cars are not baby sitters, according to a news release.

The Benton County Sheriff's Office received a report Wednesday of a child being left in a closed, parked car. It was the sheriff's office's first such complaint of the year, the release said.

The parent left the child unattended while going into a bank.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta reported that 27 children died last year from heat exhaustion after being left unattended in a parked vehicle, the release said.

On a typical spring or summer day, with an outside temperature of 85 degrees, the temperature inside a closed car can be as high as 160 degrees, according to the release.

Seventy-five percent of the temperature increase occurs within the first five minutes.

Large cars heat up just as fast as small cars, and the vehicle's interior color makes little difference. Having the car windows rolled down a few inches will result only in a small decrease in temperature, according to the release.

"Do not leave your child unattended in a vehicle for any length of time," the release said. "Your child could suffer severe injury or death. In addition, you could face a charge of endangering the welfare of a minor."