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Vehicular Heatstroke
Sometimes babies are so peaceful and quiet in the backseat that we can forget they are even there. When they are sleeping, it can also be tempting to leave a sleeping baby in the car so they don’t need to be woken to quickly run into the store. But leaving a child alone in a car can lead to serious injury or death from heatstroke, even in cooler temperatures.
Put something you use every day, like a purse, briefcase or cell phone, in the back seat next to your child as a reminder.
The Facts
The majority of parents and caregivers are misinformed and would like to believe that a hot car tragedy will never happen to them. In over half of hot car deaths, the person responsible for the child unknowingly left them in the vehicle. In most situations, this happens to loving, caring and protective parents.
One child dies from vehicular heatstroke every 10 days on average.
In over 50% of these deaths, caregivers forgot the child was in the car.
A car can heat up 19 degrees in just 10 minutes.
Cracking a window doesn’t help keep the car’s temperature down.
Young children are particularly at risk
as their bodies heat up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s.
The #1 cause of death
for children in non-crash, vehicle deaths is vehicular heatstroke.
Remember to ACT!
Avoid vehicular heatstroke related injury and death.
Never leave a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Keep your car locked when you’re not inside it so children are unable to get into the car on their own.
Create reminders.
Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place your phone, briefcase or purse in the backseat when traveling with your child.
Take action immediately.
If you see a child alone in a car…
Call 911.
Additional Safety Tips
Make arrangements
for your child care provider to call you right away if your child doesn’t show up at the expected time. Be especially careful if you change your routine for dropping off children at childcare. Heatstroke incidents often occur when people’s routine is disrupted.
Teach kids not to play in cars.
Also teach kids that trunks are for transporting cargo and are not safe places to play.
Make sure to lock your vehicle (doors and the trunk) when you’re away from it
Keep keys and remote entry fobs out of children’s sight and reach.
If your child is missing, immediately check swimming pools, vehicles and trunks.
Get children who are locked in cars out as soon as possible. If you can’t do so quickly, dial 911 right away. Emergency personnel are trained to evaluate and check for signs of heatstroke.
Get Printable Resources for Vehicular Heatstroke Safety
Learn tips and changes to routines to do all you can to avoid child vehicular heatstroke deaths. (link missing)
Download Resources >