OTS: Look before you lock to save your child’s life
May 1, 2023
You would never forget your baby in the car. Would you?
Mothers, fathers, caregivers — anyone is susceptible to forgetfulness. We live in a fast-paced society, and our routines are often upended at a moment's notice. It is during these moments of hurriedness and change in routine that many of these preventable tragedies occur.
In the 25 years since safety advocates first began tracking heatstroke in vehicles, 940 children in the U.S. have died after being left in a hot car. Of those, more than half occurred when a child was forgotten while in a rear-facing car seat or sleeping in the backseat.
This National Heatstroke Prevention Day — May 1 — our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to remind everyone about the dangers of heatstroke and the deadly consequences of leaving children in hot cars.
These tragedies can happen anywhere. Heatstroke fatalities have occurred even in vehicles parked in shaded areas and when the outside air temperatures were 80 degrees Fahrenheit or less. It was 79 degrees Feb. 27 when a 2-year-old boy died of vehicular heatstroke in Alabama.
In 10 minutes, a car can heat up by as much as 20 degrees. Not only that, but children's body temperature rises three to five times faster than adults', making them more susceptible to heatstroke. Rolling down a window isn't enough.
That's why we are urging all parents and caregivers to do these three things:
- Make it a habit to look in the back seat every time you exit the car.
- Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended.
- Always lock the car and put the keys out of reach.
If you are a bystander and see a child in a hot vehicle:
- Make sure the child is OK and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
- If the child appears to be OK, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility's security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
- If there is someone with you, one person should actively search for the parent while the other waits at the car.
Know the warning signs of heatstroke, which include red, hot and moist or dry skin; no sweating; a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse; nausea; confusion; or acting strangely. If a child exhibits any of these signs after being in a hot vehicle, quickly spray the child with cool water or with a garden hose — never put a child in an ice bath. Call 911 immediately.
Help put an end to these tragedies. Visit the NHTSA website for more information.
