Summertime is when we should all be more aware of the deadly danger of heatstroke and to never, ever leave a child alone in a vehicle,” added NHTSA Acting Administrator David Friedman. “Even on a mild summer day, the temperatures in a vehicle can rise rapidly to levels high enough to kill a child left in a car, even if the windows are left cracked.”
To prevent deaths and injuries, NHTSA offers the following safety tips:
Heatstroke
- Never leave a child alone in a car.
- Look before you lock: Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away.
- Remember your precious cargo: Do things that serve as a reminder that a child is in the vehicle, such as placing a phone, purse or briefcase in the back seat to ensure no child is accidentally left in the vehicle, or writing a note to indicate a child is in the car seat.
- Act to save a child’s life: If you see a child alone in a vehicle on a warm day, immediately call 911.
- A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.
- Teach children that a vehicle is not a play area, lock car doors and store keys out of a child’s reach.
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