Preventing Heatstroke

Since 1998, more than 960 children in the U.S. have died of vehicular heatstroke because they were left or became trapped in a hot car. It’s important for everyone to understand that children are more vulnerable to heatstroke and that all hot car deaths are preventable. We — as parents, caregivers and bystanders — play a role in helping to make sure another death doesn’t happen.

Across the country, about 38 kids die every year in hot cars. The three main reasons:

  • Forgotten: The most common occurrence is when a change in routine or distraction results in the child being left in the car, for example, rather than being dropped off at childcare. More than 50% of cases involve forgotten children.
  • Access to unlocked vehicle: The second most frequent occurrence involves children gaining access to unlocked vehicles. More than 25% of cases can be attributed to kids getting into cars on their own and not being able to get back out. Often young children are able to open a vehicle door from the outside, but are unable to open the door or identify how to exit a vehicle from the inside.
  • Intentionlly left behind: In about 20% of cases, kids are intentionally left in hot cars. Some believe it’s safe to leave children in a vehicle for a few minutes, even it’s hot. No matter the reason, a child left in a vehicle can experience a rapid temperature rise, one that can be life-threateing within minutes.

How You Can Help

Safe Kids WorldwideKids and Car SafetyJan Null (noheatstroke.org) and the National Safety Council work together with many other partners to help eliminate these preventable tragedies, and we’re asking you to join us. Below you will find a collection of newsletters that include sample social media posts, resources and personal stories – in short, tools you can use to help inform others and ensure that no family has to endure the loss of a child to heatstroke in a hot car.