How To Keep Your Child From Dying In A Hot Car This Summer

Forbes

8 hours ago

It's one of the most excruciating, painful ways to die - and each death is entirely avoidable.
In the last 25 years, more than 1,010 children and infants have died of heatstroke after either being left in hot cars or due to becoming trapped after getting into unattended, unlocked cars, say experts.
It's happening more often, too. In 2024, 39 children died of heatstroke in vehicles — up 35% from 2023, according to NoHeatStroke.org.
2018 and 2019 brought a record number of such hot car deaths — 53 children died each year. That's the most in at least 25 years. 52.6% died when forgotten by a parent or caregiver, 23.8% gained access to a vehicle on their own, 21.8% were left in the vehicle on purpose, and 1.9% were 'unknown.'
Here are some vital things to know about children and heatstroke in automobiles - and how to possibly save a life.
A child's body temperature rises much faster than an adult's.
When a child is left in a vehicle, that child's temperature can rise quickly — and the situation can quickly become dangerous. Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees. Death occurs at a core body temperature of 107 or above.
Rolling Windows Down Or Parking In Shade Doesn't Lower The Temperature In The Car
The very reason some people feel comfortable leaving their kid in a car on a hot day is because they're dashing into 7-11 or similar. But The temperature increase is highest in the first 15-30 minutes after a car is left parked in the sun. The objects in a car's interior such as seats, carpeting, and the dashboard also absorb some of that heat. A Stanford University study found that on a sunny day with temperatures ranging from 72°F to 96°F (22°C to 35°C), the temperature was an average of 40°F higher (8°C) inside the cars they tested than it was outdoors.
Get in the habit of checking the back seat - train yourself
After living in NYC for most of my life, I never get off a subway, leave a table in a restaurant or get out of a vehicle without looking back to see if there's a wallet, keys, phone or anything at all left behind. Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle — especially the back seat — before locking the doors and walking away.
Some advocate placing a personal item like a purse or briefcase or even one shoe in the back seat as another reminder to look before you lock the car. But those are gimmicks. Take responsibility to train yourself to look in the backseat each and every time, the same as you check to see if the stove is off before leaving the house, or that you have wallet, keys and phone.
Store car keys and fobs out of a child's reach and teach children that a vehicle is not a play area.
The inside of a car is a fascinating area for a kid. It's forbidden, first - kids don't get to drive, so they love to sit behind the wheel, push the buttons, yank the steering wheel and more when they're in there alone. But the same as you teach them that Mommy or Daddy's laptop or the cat's tail or anything hot shouldn't be touched, teach them that the inside of a car isn't a playground. Have a special place in the house for the keys, out of reach of curious little fingers.
Get in the habit of locking your vehicle, every time.
Always lock your car when you aren't using it. Even if you don't have a child of your own, a child in your neighborhood could get into your unlocked vehicle. Over 230 children have died from vehicular heatstroke since 1998 because they gained access to a vehicle and became trapped. Even if you're just dashing into a convenience store, lock the car and take the keys.
Don't assume a professional caregiver knows better than to leave kids in a hot car
Most caregivers are responsible, but they are the same as everyone else in that they are capable of making mistakes, forgetting and being negligent. On particularly scorching days, don't be afraid to offer a gentle reminder to the person in charge of your child's welfare to refrain from leaving your kid in a hot car, even for a few minutes.
Butt in when necessary
If you see a child alone in a locked car, act immediately and call 911. A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled. Don't hesitate to break a window if you have to. Seconds can count.
Washington passed a bill earlier this year preventing prosecution or lawsuits when a civilian breaks a car window to relieve a human being or animal from suffering the effects of extreme heat, though certain criteria must apply. Other states should follow suit.