Pediatric vehicular heatstroke is one of the leading causes of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children 14 and younger. A common factor is a change in routine leading the parent to forget their child in the vehicle. In 2023, 29 children died from heatstroke in vehicles, and on average, 38 children die per year.
Children are at a higher risk than adults of dying from heatstroke in a hot vehicle because their body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. Rolling down a window does little to keep a vehicle cool. The temperature inside a car can reach 125 degrees in minutes.
Follow these tips from Kids and Car Safety:
- Check the back seat before leaving your vehicle, making sure no child is left behind. Place the child’s diaper bag, stuffed animal, or other item in the front passenger seat as a visual cue that a child is with you.
- Keep your vehicle locked at all times, and don’t leave car keys within reach of children.
- Make it a habit to open the back door of your vehicle every time you park. Place an item that you can’t start your day without in the back seat (badge, purse, briefcase, laptop, etc.)
- If you see a child alone in a vehicle, take immediate action: call 911 and stay with the child until help arrives.
Stay cool this summer and prioritize your children’s safety in cars. Learn more about vehicle safety including frontovers and backovers at Kids and Car Safety and NHTSA. Follow @KidsInDanger on social media for valuable safety tips, recall information, and the latest updates on child safety.
