http://www.katv.com/story/29628812/small-child-found-dead-in-hot-car-in-hot-springs

BREAKING: Small child found dead in hot car in Hot Springs
Posted: Jul 24, 2015 3:41 PM PDT

Authorities are investigating after a small child was found dead in a hot car outside a home in Hot Springs Friday afternoon, according to Hot Springs Fire Department and Police Department officials.

Authorities are still on scene, but have not yet released any information. The cause of death for the child has not been released at this time.

We have a crew headed out to the scene and will continue to update this story as we get more information.

Child, 2, dies after being left in hot car

A 2-year-old child who was found unresponsive at 120 Fairoaks Place Friday afternoon may have died after being left inside a hot vehicle, Hot Springs police said.

Hot Springs Fire Chief Ed Davis said Friday night that the fire department responded to a call of a "child in a car" around 3:20 p.m. Friday at a home at the end of James Drive at the intersection with Fairoaks Place.

"When Engine 7 arrived on the scene they were waved off by LifeNet because apparently the child was already deceased. They didn't even get out at the scene," he said.

Hot Springs police were on the scene investigating Friday night.

Police Cpl. McCrary Means said that, at 3:12 p.m., officers from the Hot Springs Police Department and LifeNet responded to 120 Fairoaks stemming from a 911 call reporting an unresponsive child.

"Upon their arrival, immediate resuscitation efforts and immediate medical care was given. Unfortunately, all life-saving measures and efforts were unsuccessful," Means said in a news release distributed by email Friday night.

"Our preliminary investigation indicates that this may be a heat-related incident, where the child, who was approximately 2 years of age, was left in a vehicle," he said.

"The Hot Springs Police Department will conduct a thorough investigation and the body will be sent to the state crime lab to determine the cause of death," Means said.

While it wasn't confirmed that it was a heat-related death, Garland County experienced its hottest weather in nearly two years on Friday. Hot Springs reached 100 degrees at the Hot Springs Memorial Field recording station shortly before 5 p.m. Friday -- the first time the station has reached 100 degrees since Sept. 8, 2013, according to National Weather Service records.

According to the National Weather Service website, there were 30 heatstroke deaths in the United States in 2014 involving children left in vehicles. The information was provided by San Jose State University.

"Studies have shown that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for children, pets and even adults. Leaving the windows slightly open does not significantly decrease the heating rate. The effects can be more severe on children because their bodies have not developed the ability to efficiently regulate its internal temperature," the site says.