State warns: do something if you see a child in a hot car

Tuesday, three state agencies teamed up to tell you if you see a child left in a hot car, do something.

In the past week, three Arkansas children have died in hot cars.

A lot of people on the FOX16 Facebook page said Tuesday that they would try opening the door of a car if they saw a trapped child. If it was locked, they said they would break the window.

But, when FOX16 asked people in person what they would do Tuesday, the response was overwhelmingly the same, and it was exactly what the state wants you to do.

"I would definitely call the police," says mother Marianna Heimbach.

"I would definitely call 911. There is no question," says mother Kimberly Rowe.

"It would be kind of weird. I'd probably use my cell phone there and call up the police," says father Curtis Burnett.

The three parents we talked with all gave correct answers. They would all do exactly what three state agencies want you to do if you see a child trapped in a hot car: call for help.

"I wouldn't leave my dog in a car, let alone a child," says Rowe.

"You're gonna suffocate. It's too hot out here for that mess," says Burnett.

The Arkansas Department of Health, Department of Human Services and State Police all issued a warning Tuesday launching their "If You See Something, Do Something" campaign.

With a seven year old and a new daughter on the way, Burnett can not see how anyone could leave a child in a car.

"If they're young enough that they can't get out on their own, then you should still be in the excited phase of I've got a new kid, so that's a little weird," he says.

"If you look in my back seat, you'll notice I have a baby seat because I have an 11 month old. I would never intentionally leave her in a car because that is so dangerous. I'm sitting here myself sweating," says Rowe.

Rowe says sometimes innocent people can make mistakes.

"I'm sure it happens unintentionally and intentionally both. It's tragic," she says.

"Nobody would ever dream of doing that to their child, but I can understand how it can happen when you're distracted," says Heimbach.

In 2011, 17 Arkansans died from heat-related illnesses. So far this year, we know of at least four.