With statistics revealing that more than 500 children have died in hot cars in the US since 1998 and three dozen children die of hyperthermia in cars every year in the country, safety advocates have come up with some suggestions to help people prevent accidental deaths of children in hot cars.

The first and foremost tip offered by safety advocates is that children should never be left alone in a car to run even a short errand. Towards that end, people have been advised to use drive-thru windows at banks, dry cleaners and restaurants; and use a debit or credit card for making payments for gas at the pump.

Furthermore, people who tend to 'forget' children in the car - an idea which some feel is "totally idiotic" - should ensure that some indispensable item, like the wallet or the cellphone, is kept in the back of the car; so that the back seat is checked before leaving the vehicle.

It is also suggested that a stuffed animal or toy should be placed in the front seat, to serve as a reminder that the child has been seated in the back seat of the car.

If the child 'accidentally left in the car' goes missing, the car - including the including the trunk - should be checked. Moreover, upon seeing an unresponsive child in any hot car, 911 should be called up immediately.