MURRIETA -- Students at Warm Springs Middle School heard -- and saw -- firsthand Thursday what can happen if a child is left unattended in a car.

A California Highway Patrol car parked in the sun near the stage where the outdoor assembly was held had a thermometer in the back window. Within about 20 minutes, the temperature inside the car jumped from 80 degrees to 130 degrees.

Tammy Russell told the students how her 6-month-old baby, Kaitlyn, died of heat stroke six years ago when her baby sitter left her in a vehicle.

"I made a promise to her in the hospital to do everything in my power to keep this from happening to someone else," Russell told the sixth, seventh and eighth graders.

The efforts of the grieving mother led to the formation of "4 R Kids Sake" as well as new legislation known as "Kaitlyn's Law." The law makes it a crime for someone responsible for any child 6 years old or younger to leave that child unattended in a motor vehicle unless supervised by someone 12 or older.

Russell was the keynote speaker at the student assembly held in recognition of Purple Ribbon Month, which is an effort to increase awareness of the dangers of children in unattended cars.

"Educate your parents and your friends and neighbors," Russell told the students. "If you see a kid in a car (unattended), tell an adult or call police yourself."

Russell explained how it is so easy to prevent such tragic deaths just by being aware and doing something when a child is seen unattended in a car.

At the conclusion of the assembly, Russell asked those in attendance to take a moment of silence for all those children who have lost their lives in unattended vehicles.

She then released about a dozen purple balloons as the several hundred students screamed, "No kids left in cars!" at her request.

Russell said after the students had returned to class that she personally speaks at about three schools a year, while associates speak year-round across the country to promote awareness.

"Kids are big advocates for this," Russell said. "They are the first to want to tell their parents when they see something wrong going on."

Her organization tracks, primarily through media accounts, the number of child deaths in unattended vehicles because there is no such tracking done by any government agency, she said.

Since 2000, there have been 633 such deaths in the United States, Russell said, adding that she's sure that number is low.

On a positive note, however, she said there have been no reported deaths like that in California so far this year.

"I just pray that our message is getting out," Russell said.

She attributes the zero deaths to an increase in awareness.

"I think a lot of people are stopping and getting involved and taking action where maybe they didn't realize before how tragic this can be," Russell said.

That's the message those who organized the Warm Springs Middle School assembly want to get across to students there: Be aware and make others aware.

"Be the army that's out there keeping this from happening," Warm Springs Principal Tim Custer told his students.

Murrieta Fire Chief Paul Christman reminded them that they are now old enough to watch out for their younger brothers and sisters.

"A car is an oven on wheels when its parked," he told them.

The students received a challenge from CHP Capt. Jeanne Jungers, commander of the Temecula area office.

"When you go home tonight, would you tell 10 people about this law?" Jungers said, asking them to help get the word out to those they know.

"It's so simple, but so very important," Jungers told the students.

For more information, go to www.4rkidssake.org

Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.