A child left in a hot car—or who gets into an unlocked vehicle unnoticed—can die of heat stroke very quickly.
Dozens of U.S. children lose their lives this way each year. But these tragedies can be prevented.
Here's what to know about the danger of hot cars, and steps you can take to help keep your child safe.
How dangerous are hot cars & heatstroke?
Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children under age 15. Heatstroke happens when the body is not able to cool itself quickly enough.
Children are at higher risk for heatstroke than adults.
A child's body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult's does. When left in a hot car, a child's major organs begin to shut down when their temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit (F). A child can die when their temperature reaches 107 degrees F.
Heatstroke happens quickly in a hot car.
Cars heat up quickly! In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees F. It's also important to know that:
Cracking a window, parking in the shade or using the air conditioner does little to change the inside temperature of the car.
Heatstroke can happen when the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees F.
Because of
climate change, we can expect more days to be hotter. Also, hotter days can happen throughout the year.
10 ways to avoid leaving a child in a car
Keep in mind:
Any parent or caregiver, even a very loving and attentive one, can forget a child is in the back seat. Being especially busy or distracted increases the risk. To prevent the unthinkable, here are key safety reminders:
Always check the back seat and make sure all children are out of the car before locking it and walking away.
Avoid distractions while driving, especially
cell phone use.
Be extra alert when there is a change in your routine, like when
someone else is driving your child or you take a different route to work or child care.
Have your child care provider call if your child is more than 10 minutes late.
If someone else is driving your child, always check to make sure they have arrived safely.
Put your cell phone, bag backpack or purse in the back seat. This can help you remember to check the back seat when you arrive at your destination.
- Keep your car locked when it is parked to prevent a curious child from entering when no one is around. One in 4 hot car deaths happen when a child mistakenly locks themselves inside.
Make sure children do not have easy access to your car keys. Store them
out of a child's reach.
Keep rear fold-down seats closed to prevent a child from crawling into the trunk from inside the car.
Teach children that cars are not safe places to play. Remind them that cars, especially car trunks, should not be used for games like hide-and-seek.
First places you should check if your child is missing
If a child is missing, always
check the pool first if you have one—and then the car, including the trunk!
What to do if you see a child alone in a car
Take action. If you see an unattended child in a car and are concerned, you should immediately call 911.
If the child is not responsive or is in pain, immediately:
If the child is responsive:
Know the car safety laws in your state
Although
legislation has been introduced, there is currently no federal law in place to prevent child heat stroke deaths in cars. However, many states have passed
laws that set limits on whether or how long a child can be left in a car. This is especially common in warm-weather states.
For example, in
California, children under age 7 can't be left alone in any vehicle unless supervised by someone who's at least 12 years old. In
Florida, children under age 6 cannot be left alone in a vehicle longer than 15 minutes if the car is turned off; if the vehicle is running, the child can't be left alone inside it at all.
Check the laws in your state here. Remember, it is NOT safe to leave a young child alone in a car for any length of time.
More information