• Heatstroke, also known as hyperthermia, is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children.
  • It occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.
  • Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s (source: American Academy of Pediatrics).
  • A car can heat up 19 degrees in 10 minutes (noheatstroke.org). This means that with a 90° outside temperature, the inside of a car can heat up to 109° in 10 minutes and will continue to rise.Cracking a window doesn’t help.
  • Symptoms can quickly progress from flushed, dry skin and vomiting to seizures, organ failure and death.

 

Heatstroke can easily take the life of a small child or animal that is left in a vehicle. Please make sure to take the extra steps and make sure there is anyone left in your vehicle when you exit.at least 849 children across the United States died from heatstroke when unattended in vehicles. (Statistics prior to 1998 are not considered reliable).

  • From 1998 through 2019, at least 849 children across the United States died from heatstroke when unattended in vehicles

  • From 1998 through 2019,Texas lead all states with 126 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths.

PREVENTION

Reduce the number of pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths by remembering to ACT:

Avoid heatstroke-related injury by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a quick trip to the store. Always lock your doors and trunks -- including in your driveway or garage. If a child goes missing, check the pool first, then check the vehicles, including trunks.

Create reminders. Routinely place something you'll need at your next stop -- like a purse, briefcase or cellphone -- in the backseat.

Take Action. If you see a child alone in a car, take action. Call 911. 

Check your car before you lock it. Your car can stand the heat, your child can’t. Make it a habit to look in the back seat EVERY time you exit your vehicle. If you see a child or animal alone in a vehicle, try to find the parents and call 911 if the child seems to be in distress or non-responsive.