Occupant Safety Resources

Hot Cars

Hot car deaths are a tragic and preventable issue affecting children left unattended in vehicles. Temperatures inside a parked car can rise rapidly, leading to life-threatening heat exposure in just a matter of minutes. It’s important for everyone to understand these tragedies can happen to anyone but are always preventable.

Understanding the Risks

  • Rapid Temperature Increase: On a warm day, the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rise significantly higher than the outside temperature. In just 10 minutes, it can increase by 20 degrees Fahrenheit or more, creating dangerously hot conditions inside the vehicle.
  • Vulnerable Populations: Children, especially those under the age of four, are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses due to their smaller body size and limited ability to regulate body temperature. A child’s body temperature rises 3-5 times faster than an adult’s.

Prevention Tips

  • Never Leave a Child Alone in a Vehicle: Always ensure that children are not left unattended in a car, even for a few minutes. Rolling windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the interior temperature of the vehicle.
  • Create Reminders: Use reminders to help prevent forgetting a child in the back seat. Place your phone, purse, wallet, briefcase or another item you need in the back seat next to the child. Alternatively, consider putting a note or stuffed animal in the front seat to remind you that a child is in the back seat.
  • Establish a Routine: Make it a habit to check the back seat every time you exit the vehicle. Encourage caregivers or family members to adopt this practice as well.
  • Use Technology: Consider using car seats or vehicles equipped with alarms or reminders that alert you if a child is left in the back seat.
  • Educate Others: Inform family members, friends, and caregivers about the dangers of hot cars and the importance of never leaving children unattended in vehicles.
  • Store Car Keys out of Reach: Keep car keys out of a child’s reach to prevent them from getting into the vehicle.
  • Secure your Car: Always lock your car when not in use. Even if you don’t have a child, an unsecured vehicle can pose a danger to neighborhood kids.
  • Not a Place to Play: Teach children that vehicles are not a safe place to play.

What to do if you see a child alone in a vehicle

If you encounter a child alone in a parked car and it appears to be overheated:

  1. Call 911: Immediately report the situation to emergency services.
  2. Assess the Child’s Conditions: If the child appears in distress, is unresponsive, or showing signs of heatstroke (such as confusion, vomiting, or rapid breathing) take action to help them.
  3. Consider Safe Intervention: If it is safe to do so and the child is in immediate danger, you may break the window to gain access.

Additional Resources

Disclaimer:
The information and materials found on this website are intended for reference and education. To ensure all passengers are using vehicle restraint systems correctly, please consult with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, as well as your vehicle’s owner’s manual and your child restraint owner’s manual.