NHTSA Urges the Public to Help Prevent Child Heatstroke

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges everyone to help prevent child heatstroke deaths by remembering to Stop. Look. Lock. when they park their vehicles. Today, May 1, is National Heatstroke Prevention Day. 

In 2024, 39 children died from vehicular heatstroke, an increase from the 29 children who died in 2023. One child has already died this year in a hot vehicle. 

Heatstroke remains one of the leading causes of non-crash vehicle-related fatalities among children, killing more than 1,000 children since 1998. On average, one child dies from heatstroke every 10 days in the United States by crawling into an unlocked vehicle or being left in a car, intentionally or unintentionally. 

“As a father to nine, I know just how hard it can be to keep track of your little ones 24/7,” Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said. “But there is no excuse for leaving a child in a parked vehicle. Every parent, sibling, relative, and babysitter needs to understand the severity of doing so – it's the only way we can prevent more of these heartbreaking losses of life.” 

“No one ever expects to forget their child in a vehicle, but the unfortunate reality is that it can happen to anyone,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said. “Every one of these tragedies is preventable, and we urge parents and caregivers to make it a habit to Stop. Look. Lock. every time they exit their car to prevent these devastating tragedies. And if you see a child left alone in a car, call 911 immediately – you could save a life.” 

Vehicles can heat up very quickly, with temperatures rising 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes, creating a deadly situation for a child locked inside. Even on a cool, 60-degree day, a child can die in a hot car. Cracking the windows or parking in the shade does little to protect a trapped child, as children’s bodies warm three to five times faster than adults’ bodies. 

NHTSA offers these tips to help keep children safe: 

• Always lock your vehicle when you’re not using it. Even if you don’t have a child of your own, a child in the neighborhood could get into your unlocked vehicle.  
• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even if you think you’ll only be gone for a minute.  
• Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle – especially the back seat – before locking the doors and walking away. Place a stuffed animal in the passenger’s seat or your purse or briefcase in the back seat to help you remember that a child is in the back seat.
• Ask your childcare provider or school to call if your child doesn’t arrive as expected.
• Teach children that a vehicle is not a play area and store keys out of their reach.
• ACT if you see a child alone in a vehicle by calling 911 immediately and getting help. A child experiencing heat-related distress should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled. 

For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/Heatstroke and TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.