HOUSTON – A woman was charged after police say she left a child in a hot vehicle for 20 minutes on Tuesday, according to Houston Police Department.
Blanca Chavez, 37, has been charged with abandoning a child with the intent to return.
According to court records, Chavez left a child younger than 15 years old in the vehicle for 20 minutes as outside temperatures reached 94 degrees.
Her bond was set at $1,000. Chavez is expected to make her court appearance on Friday.
Memorial Hermann’s Dr. Benedict Ifedi advised that parents do not attempt to leave their child in the car when running errands.
“Children can overheat four times faster than adults and again you can have the temperature rise upwards to 20 degrees within a span of 10 minutes,” Ifedi said.
Even leaving a child in a car on an 80-degree day could prove dangerous, he said. Ifedi said parents should always make time to take their children with them, saying it is not worth the risk.
“The ramifications can be fatal. You can have seizures, heart attack an actual stroke,” Ifedi said.
Ifedi also suggested that parents keep their cars locked when parked at home in case a child attempts to get in while playing at home.