Tips for preventing child deaths in hot cars

As the summer months are upon us, we unfortunately hear of another child whose life is lost due to the effects of being left in or climbing into a hot car: on average, 38 children die in hot cars each year.¹ Children should never be left alone in a parked car, as a vehicle’s cabin temperature can rise rapidly in the hot sun, topping 120 degrees on an 80 degree day. Tragedies like these can be avoided, however.

Here are some tips to help avoid accidental deaths in hot cars:

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, not even for a short period of time.
• Whenever possible, use drive-thru windows at banks, dry cleaners and restaurants. Use a debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump.
• Put a purse, cellphone or other item you will need in the back seat of your car. This will help ensure that you check the back seat before leaving the vehicle.
• Keep a stuffed animal or toy in your child’s unoccupied car seat. As a reminder that your child is in the back of the car, put that item in the front seat when you place your child in the car seat.
• If a child is missing, immediately check the vehicle, including the trunk.
• If you see a child alone in any vehicle for more than a few minutes, try to get the child out and call 911.

Get involved

Awareness and education about this hazard could have an immediate impact on the problem. Get involved in Where’s Baby and help to save a child’s life. Remember: whether it’s cloudy or not, the heat of the sun can be deadly.

Did you know?²

Child heatstroke in cars can lead to:

• Severe injury or death
• Being arrested and jailed
• A lifetime of regret

Children overheat up to five times faster than adults:

• In 10 minutes, a car’s temperature can rise over 20 degrees.
• Even at an outside temperature of 60 degrees, your car’s inside temperature can reach 110 degrees.
• A child dies when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.

Warning signs of heatstroke:

• Red, hot, and moist or dry skin
• No sweating
• Strong, rapid pulse or a slow, weak pulse
• Nausea
• Confusion or strange behavior

¹http://www.kidsandcars.org/heatstroke.html
²http://www.safercar.gov/parents/InandAroundtheCar/heatstroke.htm

Coverage is not available in all states.