4-year-old left in car in Echo Park as SoCal braces for triple-digit temps

Southern California braces for heat wave that could bring triple-digit temps

Southern California is bracing for a heat wave that could deliver triple-digit temperatures.

LOS ANGELES - A four-year-old child was left in a car in Echo Park Monday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, as Southern California braces for one of the biggest heat waves of the season.

Radio calls came in just after 2 p.m. Monday for a child left in a car in the 1600 block of Bellevue Avenue, in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. LAPD requested an ambulance to check on the child, but did not provide any information about the child's condition.

Monday's incident comes as Southern California is anticipating a major heatwave ahead of the Labor Day Weekend, with temperatures well into the triple digits in parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

Leaving a child in a hot car has been illegal in California since then-Governor Gray Davis signed Kaitlyn's Law. The law prohibits anyone from leaving a child six years old or younger in a vehicle "[w]here there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child’s health or safety, or [w]hen the vehicle’s engine is running or the vehicle’s keys are in the ignition, or both." People charged with breaking the law can face a $100 fine.

Though the law is aimed at protecting children from a number of vehicle dangers, not just hot cars, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that nearly 1,000 children have died in hot cars since 1998, and more than half of those occurred because a child was accidentally left in the vehicle.

The heat wave is expected to begin Monday, while temperatures are expected to rise even higher Tuesday and stay that way through next weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

In Van Nuys, temperatures are expected to top 100 degrees every day from Tuesday through Sunday, peaking at 106 both Wednesday and Sunday. In Lancaster — traditionally one of the hottest spots in Los Angeles County — highs were expected to hover around 108 to 109 degrees Wednesday through Sunday.

In Riverside County, health officials are urging residents to take precautions to protect themselves during the heat wave.

"Take this heat seriously, even if you’re healthy, because the predicted temperatures are nothing to take lightly" said Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung. "Just a few precautions can help you stay safe. Even remaining outdoors for short periods of time can impact your health."

Olga Sanchez, the Senior Program Coordinator for the Community Action Partnership in Riverside County, said the county is opening cooling centers.

"The County of Riverside has coordinated a county-wide effort to provide cooling centers to all individuals escaping the heat wave. During this heat wave, we are asking all of the residents to please drink plenty of water, to wear light clothing, and to wear sunscreen. If at all costs, they are to be outside or using public transportation, please have a cooling center directory or have it on your phone set and ready to go," said Sanchez.

Coordinated by the Community Action Partnership of Riverside County, more than 70 cooling centers are located in local libraries, as well as senior and community centers. Light refreshments and water will be available at some locations.

Cooling centers for Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties will be open throughout the heatwave. Information on those locations can be found below:

City News Service contributed to this report.