Hot Car Deaths: How to Prevent Vehicular Heatstroke This Summer

It’s a frightening statistic for any parent. Almost every 10 days, a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle. That’s nearly 37 children a year. In most of these deaths, the child was forgotten in the car. A leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children 14 years old and younger, nearly every state in the U.S. is affected by this tragedy.

However, pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths, also known as hot car deaths, are 100% preventable.

Is it Okay to Leave My Child in a Parked Car?

No, never leave your child unattended in a parked car. This puts your child at greater risk for heat stroke. Even in cool temperatures, the interior of a car can quickly heat up. With a window cracked open, a vehicle’s temperature can heat up 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. That means on an 80-degree day, the inside of a car can reach 100 degrees or more. Shade and airflow aren’t enough to prevent vehicular heatstroke.

Signs of Heatstroke in Children

If your child shows symptoms of heatstroke, seek emergency medical care. Symptoms include:

• Confusion
• Dizziness or fainting
• Fast, strong heart beat
• Headache
• High body temperature (103°F or higher)
• Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
• Nausea

Why Do Children Get Left in a Car?

There are three main scenarios when an infant, or child, dies by vehicular heatstroke:

• Children are forgotten in the vehicle by their caregiver in 55% of hot car deaths.
• Children gain access to an unlocked vehicle and become trapped inside in 25% of hot car deaths.
• Children are knowingly left in the vehicle by their caregiver in 15% of hot car deaths.
  

How to Prevent Hot Car Deaths

Stop, look and lock after parking: More than 50% of vehicular heatstroke deaths occur when the infant/child is forgotten in a vehicle. There are many factors to consider when this happens, however, the most common is a change in routine. Nearly half of these “forgotten” deaths occur when the infant/child is on their way to childcare or preschool. It can happen to any family. Always remember to stop, look and lock after parking your vehicle.

Lock your vehicle, even at home: Caregivers should keep vehicles locked, even in their driveway or garage. Store keys out of reach and sight of young children. Exploring toddlers and young children can climb into an unlocked vehicle without an adult knowing in a matter of seconds. If security features or child locks are activated, a child can get locked in, putting them at severe risk of vehicular heatstroke. Parents and caregivers should teach children cars are not a safe place to play or hide.

Never leave children unattended in a vehicle: Not fully understanding the dangers of a hot car, caregivers may mistakenly think it’s OK to leave a child in a vehicle during a quick errand. This is dangerous due to the car’s ability to heat up quickly.

Remember to A.C.T.

• Avoid vehicular heatstroke by never leaving a child alone in a vehicle, not even for a minute.
• Create reminders by putting something you need in your backseat, such as a cell phone, purse or briefcase. Parents can also put a stuffed animal in the passenger seat to remind them to check the backseat.
• Take action if you see a child alone in a vehicle. Call 9-1-1 immediately and get help.