A four-month-old baby left in a hot car in Kfar Chabad, a town located southeast of Tel Aviv, was discovered unconscious and showing signs of heatstroke by paramedics who were called to the scene Wednesday when residents noticed the infant had been left in the car for an extended period, according to Magen David Adom.

The baby was taken to Shamir Medical Center for emergency care and remains in critical condition.

“When we arrived, we were led to the baby who was unconscious, after being in a closed vehicle for a long time,” a medic from MDA said.

“We performed an initial medical assessment of the baby, and noticed that he was very warm to the touch,” the medic added.

Wednesday marked the first day of a heat wave that struck Israel and nearby countries, with temperatures above 86°F in central Israel, where Kfar Chabad is located.

As temperatures continue to rise, the Israel Meteorological Service issued heat advisory warnings, including severe heat warnings for the Jordan Valley and Judean Desert and moderate heat warnings for the eastern Galilee.

Last year, four deaths resulting from prolonged enclosure in hot cars were recorded, with a total of 41 such deaths since 2009.

Last month, a routine school drop-off in Los Angeles ended in tragedy when a four-year-old child who was left in a car died from heat exposure.