Too Many Kids Die of In-Car Heatstroke Each Year

One child has already died this year of heatstroke after being left behind in a hot car. That’s one child too many, and sadly, he probably won’t be the last this year. Heatstroke is the No. 1 cause of non-crash car-related deaths for children ages 14 and younger, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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In 2014, 31 children died of car-related heatstroke, which is down 30 percent from 2013’s 44 deaths, according to KidsandCars.org, a nonprofit safety organization. A review of media reports on heatstroke deaths from 1998-2013 found that more than 50 percent of these children’s deaths happened when a parent or caregiver simply forgot a child in the backseat. Often these incidents happen because a parent is distracted or tired and forgets about a sleeping child in back.

Cars heat up quickly; within 10 minutes, the internal temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degree higher than the external temperature, and after 30 minutes, the car’s interior can be 34 degrees hotter, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

If the sun isn’t shining, don’t assume a child can’t get heatstroke. Unfortunately, it can happen on cloudy days and even when outside temperatures are below 70 degrees, according to NHTSA. Children’s bodies warm three to five times faster than adults, and their body temperature can reach 106 degrees in as little as 15 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While there are some gadgets on the market designed to remind parents when their child is in the car, the simplest solutions are often the best. Get in the habit of stashing your purse or workbag behind the driver’s seat, which forces you to open the car’s rear door to grab your bag and your child before leaving the car. Another item to consider putting close to your child is a smartphone, which will not only cause you to open that rear car door for it, but it’ll also prevent distracted driving.

If you travel light, keep a stuffed animal in your child’s car seat. When the child is sitting in the seat, the stuffed animal can be placed in the front passenger seat as a reminder that you’ve got a backseat occupant. Simply replace the stuffed animal once you’ve removed your child from the car seat. If someone else is driving your child, or your daily routine has been altered, always check that your child arrived safely.

If you see a child who is sick or looks hot and is alone in a vehicle, don’t be afraid to get involved. Many states have Good Samaritan laws that protect citizens acting in good faith to protect someone’s life, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

Signs of heatstroke are:

• Temp of 104 degrees or higher
• Nausea or vomiting
• Flushed (red) skin
• Racing heart rate
• Skin is hot but dry to the touch
• Confusion or strange behavior

If you encounter someone suffering from heatstroke, call 911 immediately.

This year, let’s work together to make sure that no more children die of in-car heatstroke.