Each year, BCAA's Road Assist service rescues close to 300 children and pets from locked cars, according to a press release.

Many of the accidental lock-in calls occur while children playing with keys lock themselves inside the vehicle, or when drivers and their passengers become distracted while getting in and out of their vehicle. Car doors can close unexpectedly, locking young children or a pet in the car along with the car keys.

"During warm sunny weather, the inside of a car can reach extremely high temperatures in a matter of minutes -- even if it's parked in the shade," explains Dave Chapman, BCAA's manager for fleet operations. "It gets even worse if the car is sitting directly under the sun. The car acts like a magnifying glass and creates intense interior heat. Within a matter of minutes, your car becomes a four-door furnace."

To avoid any chance that a child or pet will be harmed by the heat of a car this summer, BCAA encourages parents, caregivers and pet owners to play it safe and take the following precautions:

- Never leave a child or pet alone in a car, even with the windows down or air conditioner on.

- Teach children not to play in cars and keep car keys out of reach and sight.

- Keep your vehicle locked at all times -- even at home in the garage or driveway. This will help prevent toddlers from crawling into a car and accidentally locking themselves inside.

- When running errands, leave children with a responsible adult at home, or travel with a responsible passenger who can stay with children or pets while you complete your tasks.

- Keep your pets at home during hot summer days unless you need to take them to the veterinarian, doggie day camp or grooming salon.

- If you drive a pickup truck, don't leave dogs in the truck bed. The heat can burn their paws.

- Before buckling children in the car, check to make sure surfaces such as seatbelt buckles aren't overly hot as they could burn a child's sensitive skin.

- If a child or pet is locked inside a vehicle, call 911 in an extreme emergency. Develop a routine so you're always aware that your child or pet is with you.

- Look before you leave. Always turn around to check your backseat before you leave the car. It is surprisingly common to forget kids or pets if they are quiet or sleeping.

- If you need to retrieve items placed in the backseat, make it a habit to open the rear doors rather than reaching from the front seat. This will ensure you don't forget anyone.

- Put your child's bags and other items in the front seat. With their belongings in plain sight, you're less likely to forget you're travelling with them.

- If you have several kids and/or pets in the car, do a head count before you close the door to make sure everyone is out when you reach your destination.