Baby dies after being left in car in hot weather in New Jersey

An 8-week-old baby died after being left inside a car during a heat wave in New Jersey and now her father Avraham Chaitovsky is facing charges.

Officers in Lakewood responded to a call on New Egypt Road just before 2 p.m. Monday about an infant in cardiac arrest, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said. EMS were already on the scene attempting to provide life-saving aid to the infant, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

After an investigation by police and the county attorney’s office, it was determined that the girl had been alone in her father’s car for an extended period of time, which led to her death, the report said. NBC News. The baby’s name has not been released.

It was not immediately clear how long the newborn had been in the vehicle, but high temperatures Monday reached the 90s F (32 C) across much of the tri-state area, meaning it would only take a few minutes for temperatures inside the car to rise well above that and lead to medical complications.

Chaitovsky, 28, was arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, Ocean County District Attorney Bradley Billhimer said. All charges are merely accusations and those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

This week, the third heat wave has brought the highest temperature temperatures of the year to New York and the tri-state area, day and night. On average, 38 children in the United States die each year from being left in hot cars. Despite warnings from authorities, cases of children and pets left locked in cars in New York are constant, in many cases with tragic endings, at any time of the year.

How to beat the heat in a city as congested as New York?

Under no circumstances should children and pets be left locked in a car, as this can be deadly, even within minutes. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that the temperature inside a car, regardless of whether the windows are closed or open, can rise as much as 40 degrees F (4.5 C) in an hour, even if the thermometer outside reads about 70 F (21 C). Most of the temperature increase occurs within the first 15-30 minutes, and no amount of shading is enough to protect children from these dangers, the FDNY notes.

Tips to prevent and treat hyperthermia (high body temperature):

• Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, including water and vegetable and fruit juices. Avoid coffee and alcohol.
• If your home does not have air conditioning or fans, keep curtains and windows closed during the day and open at night.
• Avoid the sun. Prolonged exposure always has negative consequences.
• Try to wear cotton or natural, cool and light fabrics, and avoid synthetic fibers and dark colors.
• Do not exercise outdoors and avoid crowded places during peak heat hours. Around 3:00 pm is considered to be the hottest time of the day.

Additionally, to avoid blackouts and fires, Con Ed recommends:

• Limit the use of large appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and microwaves, between 2 and 10 p.m.
• Use only one large appliance at a time in the home.
• Limit the use of air conditioning whenever possible. If you have several units, turn on only one.
• Use fans to help circulate air. If you open windows or balconies, do not leave children unattended. Check window guards carefully periodically. Screens or covers are not safe substitutes.
• Turn off the air conditioning when you are not at home and use a timer to start cooling half an hour before you arrive. Set the temperature that is comfortable for you.

Weather updates can be found here and on the National Weather Service (NWS-NY) website. More details about the forecast for New York and Jersey counties can be found here and on this page of NBC News Weather.