NHTSA Says Never Leave a Child in a Vehicle

(Undated) — Hot and humid weather continues and authorities are reminding you to never leave a child in a vehicle. Over the past 25 years, more than one thousand children have died of heatstroke because they were left or became trapped in a hot car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2024 alone, thirty-nine children died of heatstroke in vehicles, up thirty-five percent from 2023. They remind the public that these tragedies can happen to anyone, but are always preventable. They say even those without kids can do their part by always locking their cars to prevent a child in the neighborhood from getting trapped in a vehicle. A child’s body temperature rises three to five times 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. The NHTSA says 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. Learn more HERE.