Heat-related emergencies in the United States are swiftly on the rise this summer, as record-setting high temperatures blanket the nation. At least 10 children this year have died from being alone in a hot car, with five of these deaths happening in the first 10 days of July. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging parents and caregivers to take extra precautions to keep their children safe from these preventable tragedies.
Heatstroke from hot cars is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related death for kids 14 and younger. Since 1998, more than 975 kids have died from being left in or gaining access to hot cars. Kids’ body temperatures rise three to five times faster than adults’, and when a child’s body temperature reaches 107 degrees or higher, it can lead to death. While the risk of hot car deaths is highest when temperatures are hottest, heatstroke can be fatal at any time of year and at outside temperatures as low as 60 degrees.
Hot car deaths occur in three main scenarios:
- “Forgotten” cases are when a child is left behind in a hot car, and this makes up 52.7% of hot car deaths.
- “Gained access” makes up 25.8% of fatalities and occurs when a child gets into a car and can’t get out.
- “Left behind” makes up 20.1% of fatalities and occurs when a child is knowingly left in a vehicle, not realizing how quickly a vehicle can heat up to deadly temperatures.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council’s series of PSAs entitled “Never Happens” aims to raise awareness of the issue of hot car deaths and educate parents with a memorable action line to always “Stop. Look. Lock.” in the hopes of avoiding these preventable tragedies.