Keep Kids Out of Hot Cars
A child can die from heat stroke in minutes.
More than half of children who died in a hot vehicle were forgotten by a parent or caregiver. In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up and become deadly.
According to the National Safety Council, about 37 children die each year from heat stroke from being left in a hot vehicle. These deaths are tragic and preventable. Share these safety tips with your childcare providers, teachers, relatives, friends, family, and neighbors. It could save a life.
See a child in a hot car? Call 911 immediately and follow instructions. Emergency personnel are trained to respond.
Safety Tips
- Never leave a child behind in a vehicle. Vehicles heat up fast and stay hot even if the windows are open, the engine is running, or the air conditioning is on. Rolling down windows or parking in the shade will not safely keep the car cool.
- Always check the back seat before you leave your vehicle.
- Put your purse, backpack, coat, or briefcase in the back seat.
- Put a toy or stuffed animal in your front seat when a child is in the back.
- Use a sticky note on the dashboard as a reminder to check the back seat.
- Set an alarm on your cell phone or have a procedure to be contacted if your child doesn’t show up as expected.
- Look for a car with a rear seat reminder safety feature that alerts the driver to check the back seat.
- Teach your children that a vehicle is not a play area. Lock your vehicle and store car keys out of a child's reach.
Kids are at Higher Risk of Heat Stroke
Heat stroke begins when the body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. A child can die when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
