Vehicular heatstroke is one of the leading causes of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children 14 and younger in the United States. According to Kids and Cars, at least 1,083 children have died in hot cars since 1990. On average, 38 children die in hot cars every year, or one every 9 days.
The most dangerous mistake a parent or caregiver can make is to think leaving a child alone in a vehicle could “never” happen to them or their family. Tragically, “never” happens far too often.
Child Care Aware of Virginia encourages the public to never leave a child in a vehicle unattended, always look in the back seat before exiting your car, always lock your car, and always keep your keys out of children’s reach.
Hot Car Facts
Safety advocates have been tracking data related to hot cars and heatstroke since 1998. Some trends that have been discovered over the years:
- The majority of hot car deaths – 53% – happen because someone forgets a child in a car.
- In cases where a child is forgotten in the car, about 46% of the time, the caregiver meant to drop the child off at a daycare or preschool.
- 25% of deaths occurred when a child gained access to an unattended vehicle.
- Thursdays and Fridays – the end of the workweek – have had the highest deaths.
- More than half of the deaths (54%) are children under 2 years old.
- Because of climate change, we can expect more days to be hotter.
Heatstroke Facts
You might think it’s safe to leave a sleeping baby in the car on a cooler day for a quick run into the store. But the truth is, that vehicles can heat up to dangerous temperatures in minutes.
Did you know…
- A child’s body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s body
- In just 10 minutes, a car can rise in temperature by 20 degrees F.
- Cracking a window and/or turning on the air conditioner does little to keep a car cool once it’s turned off.
- Heatstroke can happen when the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees F.
Hot car deaths don’t just occur in the summer heat. On average, the first vehicular heatstroke death of the year happens in March. (https://www.noheatstroke.org/) In fact, the first hot car death of 2024 occurred in May.
Are you Hot Car Aware?
Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees F. The warning signs vary, but may include:
- Weakness, dizziness, and confusion
- Nausea
- Rapid breathing and heartbeat
- Loss of consciousness or seizures
- No sweating
- Flushed, hot, dry skin
If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. Call 911 immediately. If the child seems hot, sick, or displaying any of the above symptoms, get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.
For more tips on how to prevent vehicular heatstroke deaths, visit our Preventing Deaths from Heatstroke page.