Heat Stroke
On average, 38 children die in hot cars each year from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside motor vehicles. Even the best of parents or caregivers can overlook a sleeping baby in a car; and the end result can be injury or even death.
Stories
Far too many children have been inadvertently forgotten in hot vehicles or have gotten into a vehicle on their own. Vehicular heat stroke tragedies change the lives of parents, families, and communities forever. These stories are about children whose lives were lost after becoming trapped inside of a hot vehicle.
"Near Misses" Stories
Below are stories of just a few children who survived being trapped in a hot vehicle.
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Fact Sheet
Below is a summary of the information KidsAndCars.org has been gathering for over a decade.
• Child vehicular heat stroke deaths for 2011 YTD as of 10/5/2011: 28
• Child vehicular heat stroke deaths for 2010: 49
• Child vehicular heat stroke deaths for 2009: 33
• Child vehicular heat stroke deaths from 1998-2011, at least: 519
• Average number of child vehicular heat stroke deaths per year since 1998: 38 (one every 9.6 days)
• The highest number of fatalities for a one-year time period took place in 2010: 49
Charts, Statistics, Graphics
KidsAndCars.org makes available charts and graphs to be downloaded for free and are excellent education materials. We encourage you to share, print, copy, distribute, or enlarge them; but we ask that no changes be made.
Safety Tips
Learn simple tips on how to keep your children safe in and around vehicles.
Click here for our Safety Tips
Pubilc Service Announcements
Heighten awareness about the dangers children face in and around motor vehicles with KidsAndCars.org’s Public Service Announcements. Please encourage TV stations, hospital, doctor offices, public health offices, parenting classes, etc., to share this life-saving information.
News
Ray Ray's Story: A Call to Action for Parents and Caregivers
October 07, 2011
We have asked ourselves thousands of times how could this happen. Where did we go wrong? How could either of us ever possibly forget our most precious gift? How can we ever move forward? How can we ever live after this? Can we ever forgive ourselves?
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Look Before You Lock
October 06, 2011
Please join Kidsandcars.org to spread the word of car safety around children and the Look Before You Lock campaign. These simple suggestions can help save the life of a child, maybe yours.
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Mom sends reminder about warm temps in cars
September 28, 2011
A trip similar to one Haley Wesley takes with her daughter, Peyton, to and from daycare on a daily basis was similar to one that led to the death of Wesley's nine-month-old daughter Maddison four years ago.
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Advocate: Phone call could save kids' lives
September 15, 2011
national advocate devoted to saving kids from death by overheating in vehicles said parents should arrange to have their day-care center call them if their toddler doesn't arrive on time to prevent a future tragedy caused by absent-minded transportation drivers - or by mom and dad themselves.
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A Tragedy to Learn From
September 15, 2011
I recently shared a cup of tea with Mary Parks, a parent who lives near me. Mary has a painful story she is willing to share with Macaroni Kid readers in the hopes of preventing a tragedy like the one her family has endured.
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No charges yet in child's death
September 13, 2011
As authorities yesterday continued to investigate the death of a toddler found in a school van, child advocates said those kinds of incidents are preventable.
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2-year-old dies in hot car in Irving
August 26, 2011
As a single mother unloaded belongings from her vehicle in Irving on Thursday night, some of her nine children played before she finished and instructed everyone to go inside. It was 4:30 p.m. The temperature was about 102 degrees. One child was still in the car.
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Four Keys to Keeping Kids Safe in Cars
August 18, 2011
Janette Fennell, president of Kids and Cars, says that 70 percent of the time, loved ones are responsible for non-traffic incidents like rollovers and heat stroke, and most of these accidents happen at home. We give Four Keys to Keeping Kids Safe in Cars to ensure the smallest members of your family are well-protected both on and off the road.
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Exclusive: Painful tragedy gives Cape Coral father purpose
August 16, 2011
In March 2010, Payton, a 17-month-old with sapphire blue eyes the size of saucers, died. The toddler was full of smiles, a wiggleworm, who had learned to blow kisses.
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Focus sharpens on children left in hot cars
August 14, 2011
t's a heart-breaking reality that already has happened 22 times nationwide in this year of record-breaking heat: A child left in a hot automobile dies of heatstroke.
Read MoreTechnology
Consumers can also find products at local ‘after market’ dealers and on the Internet. KidsAndCars.org assumes no liability or responsibility for use of such devices. Drivers should be aware that technology does not replace proper supervision of children. Children should NEVER be left alone in or around a motor vehicle.
Cars-N-Kids - Car Seat Monitor
Baby Alert International - Proactive products for your child's safety
Suddenly Safe 'N' Secure Systems, Inc.
Associated Press - Devices exist to keep kids from dying in cars, but few are sold
Studies
Below are studies specific to vehicular heat stroke injuries and deaths. There have been several studies published about vehicular heat stroke but there is still much to be learned.
Quantifying the heat-related hazard for children in motor vehicles
Not in Traffic Surveillance-2007 Highlights
Heat-Related Mortality - Arizona, 1993-2002, and United States, 1979-2002
Heat-Related Deaths --- Los Angeles County, California, 1999-2000, and United States, 1979—1998
Heat-Related Illnesses and Deaths – Missouri, 1998, and United States, 1979-1996
Heat-related mortality -- United States
Heat waves and hot environments. Noji EK, ed. The public health consequences of disaster
Heat Related Deaths-Dallas, Wichita and Cooke Counties, Texas, and the United States, 1996