Children and pets rely on their caregivers to watch after them and make sure they’re safe.

However, during the summer, it’s become fairly common to hear news of tragic deaths in hot cars. A parent forgot a child was in the backseat. A pet owner left a dog in the car for too long.

How could this happen?

Twenty minutes doesn’t seem like a long time in regular context, but in the case of a hot day, the sun wreaks havoc on in-car temperatures. According to research from San Jose State University, the temperature can be 80 degrees outside, but with the sun streaming through the windows, a car’s interior temperature can reach more than 120 degrees within an hour.

Also, while rolling the windows down can increase airflow, the heat is still there. It’s not correct and it’s not OK to assume a pet or child will be fine because the windows are down.

Fortunately, there are easy ways to avoid these dangers, and it’s by avoiding the situations altogether.

If taking a child on the road this summer, do not under any circumstances leave him or her in the car without air conditioning. Not for 20 minutes and not for five, either. Those tragic stories can happen to anyone, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Pets can be a little harder to manage, especially since one doesn’t have the option to bring them along in the store. Instead of taking a chance, however, avoid bringing one’s furry friend along for the ride if running errands. If leaving a pet at home isn’t an option, make sure to plan ahead. Finish errands on another day, or plan them such that a pet won’t be left in the car for more than a minute or two.

Tragic deaths from overheating inside a vehicle are 100-percent preventable. All it takes is a little more planning.