According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, children can suffer fatal heatstroke in minutes when left in a vehicle, even on mild days, because car interiors heat up far faster than the outside air. More than 1,010 children in the U.S. have died from hot‑car incidents since 1998, and these tragedies are entirely preventable.

​

Why Hot Cars Become Deadly So Quickly

• Rapid temperature rise: A parked vehicle can heat up by 20°F in just 10 minutes, even with windows cracked.

• Children overheat faster: A child’s body temperature rises 3–5 times faster than an adult’s, making them far more vulnerable.

• Heatstroke danger zone: Heatstroke begins around 104°F internal body temperature; death can occur at 107°F.

​

The numbers

• A caregiver forgets a child in the vehicle (53%)

• A child gains access to an unlocked car (24%)

• A child is knowingly left in the car (22%)

 

​ Remember!

• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle—not even for a minute.

• Always check the back seat before locking the car.

• Keep vehicles locked so children cannot climb inside.

• Ask childcare providers to call immediately if a child does not arrive as expected.

• Use reminders like placing a bag, phone, jacket, or shoe in the back seat.

​