FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md.  –   A parked vehicle can become dangerously hot within minutes, putting children at risk of life-threatening heatstroke—even when outdoor temperatures do not feel extreme. Parents, caregivers and bystanders can help prevent pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths by taking a few simple precautions every time they use a vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 31 children died from vehicular heatstroke in 2025, and more than 1,000 children have died in hot vehicles since 1998.

Children are particularly vulnerable because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults. A vehicle’s interior can also heat up rapidly, with temperatures increasing by about 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes. Cracking a window or parking in the shade does not make leaving a child unattended in a vehicle safe.

Heatstroke can happen to anyone
Vehicular heatstroke deaths occur in several ways. A child may be unintentionally forgotten in a vehicle, intentionally left while an adult runs an errand, or climb into an unlocked vehicle and become trapped.
NHTSA says more than half of pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths occur when a caregiver unintentionally leaves a child in the vehicle. A change in routine, distraction or another caregiver transporting the child can increase the risk.

The key is to build safety checks into every trip.

A- Avoid heatstroke, injury and death

• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a minute
• Never assume a vehicle is safe because the windows are cracked or the vehicle is parked in the shade
• Keep parked vehicles locked and keep keys and key fobs out of children's reach
• Teach children that vehicles are not a place to play

C- Create reminders

• Make checking the back seat part of your routine every time you leave the vehicle
• Place a purse, briefcase, phone or another essential item in the back seat as a reminder to look before walking away
• Place a stuffed animal or other visual reminder in the front passenger seat when a child is riding in the back
• Ask your child's childcare provider or school to call if your child does not arrive as expected

T- Take action
If you see a child alone in a vehicle, act immediately. 

• Check whether the child is responsive and appears to be in distress
• Call 911 immediately if the child is unresponsive or showing signs of heat-related distress
• Get help and follow emergency responders' instructions
• A child experiencing heat-related distress should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled

Everyone can help save a life
Preventing pediatric vehicular heatstroke is everyone's responsibility. You do not have to be a parent or caregiver to make a difference. Always lock your vehicle when it is not in use, watch for children to may have entered an unattended vehicle, and take action if you see a child alone in a car. 

A few seconds can make the difference between life and death. 

ACT: Avoid heatstroke, injury and death. Create reminders. Take action.