In Omaha, Nebraska, a tragic incident has resulted in the arrest of Juanita Pinon, 40, following the death of her 5-year-old foster son, who was found unresponsive in a hot car.

Juanita Pinon faces charges of child abuse by neglect resulting in death, as confirmed by Omaha police after the boy was discovered inside a vehicle parked outside the beauty salon where Pinon was employed. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday, with the child left unattended in the car for approximately 7 hours while Pinon was at work. Despite efforts by emergency services to save him, the child tragically succumbed to extreme heat.

Chris Gordon, spokesperson for the Omaha Police Department, emphasized that Pinon did not provide details regarding whether she knowingly left the boy in the car or if the incident was accidental.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, responsible for foster care oversight, has not responded to inquiries about Pinon's history as a foster parent. Presently, she is held by the Douglas County Department of Corrections pending further legal proceedings.

Authorities are conducting a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death, focusing on potential heat exposure or other contributing factors, Gordon stated during a briefing on Friday.

If heat exposure is confirmed, this tragedy would mark at least the 10th child death in a hot car in 2024, according to KidsAndCars.org, a nonprofit dedicated to child vehicle safety.

Janette Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, highlighted the inherent dangers of hot cars, likening them to greenhouses that quickly heat up due to glass and sunlight. Even when outdoor temperatures are mild, interiors of cars can become dangerously hot, she cautioned, emphasizing that cracking windows is insufficient to mitigate these conditions.

Since 1990, nearly 1,100 children aged 14 or younger have died in hot cars, with a significant majority aged 3 or younger, according to KidsAndCars.org's research. Many of these deaths occur when caregivers unknowingly leave children in vehicles, often due to changes in routine or lapses in memory, Fennell explained.

To prevent such tragedies, Fennell recommended practical steps:

- Never leave children unattended in cars deliberately.

- Place a necessary item like a cellphone or purse in the back seat alongside the child to ensure their presence is always checked.

- Ask child care providers to verify the child's attendance if they are not dropped off at the usual time without notification.

Advocates like Fennell advocate for federal regulations mandating detection technology in vehicles to prevent such incidents. While some automakers have voluntarily installed reminder systems, efforts for universal adoption face delays at the legislative level.

Congress has directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish standards requiring new vehicles to include technology that detects and alerts drivers to the presence of children left in rear seats. However, proposed rules are not expected until next year due to regulatory delays.

As the community mourns this heartbreaking loss, safety advocates and lawmakers continue to advocate for enhanced measures to protect children and prevent future tragedies involving hot cars.