Dangers of Leaving Children in Hot Cars

Each year, Texans endure extremely high temperatures – often climbing to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. On a sunny day, the temperatures inside a parked car can average 50 to 75 degrees hotter than external temperatures. If it is 80 to 100 degrees out, the temperature inside a vehicle in Texas could escalate to 130 to 172 or greater. Sadly, many people do not recognize the dangers of leaving children in hot cars. Texas is number one in the nation for child hot car deaths.

Hot Car Death Facts and Statistics

2018 saw a record number of child hot car deaths. The National Safety Council recorded 53 deaths in 2018 – 14 more than the average of 39 deaths per year. Since 1998, at least once child has lost his or her life in hot car deaths each year. Texas and Florida are the two deadliest states for hot car deaths. Texas has recorded 126 hot car deaths since 1998, while Florida has had 93. So far, 2019 has seen 51 hot car deaths of children under the age of 15 in the U.S.

Children Are No Match for Extreme Temperatures

Children cannot tolerate heat as well as adults. Their bodies cannot process heat as efficiently and heat up as much as three to five times as fast as adults. They also cannot cool down as quickly. Their body temperatures are naturally higher than adults, leading to an increased risk of hyperthermia, or heatstroke. If a child suffers heatstroke, it could permanently damage the child’s brain. Most children who die from heatstroke after being trapped in hot vehicles are under the age of three, but heatstroke deaths have occurred in children as old as 14.

What Are the Risks?

Heatstroke is the greatest risk to children parents leave in hot vehicles. Heatstroke occurs when the body’s ability to regulate temperature fails due to excessively high temperatures. Overheating the body can cause fever, headache, dry skin, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing and loss of consciousness. If left untreated, heatstroke can cause permanent brain damage or death.

Before a child experiences heatstroke, he or she may develop heat exhaustion. This is a similar condition that is not as severe. Heat exhaustion can cause symptoms such as faintness, dizziness, fatigue, rapid pulse, headache and heavy sweating. The skin will feel cool and moist to the touch. If the child continues to suffer exposure to extreme temperatures, he or she may stop sweating and the skin will become dry, pointing to heatstroke. If caught in time, rest, water and cooler temperatures can reverse the effects of heat exhaustion.

How to Prevent Hot Car Deaths

Never leave a child behind in a vehicle, even for a minute. You could lose track of time or forget your child is in the vehicle. It may only take a few minutes on a hot, sunny day for your child to start experiencing the symptoms of heat exhaustion. Take your kids with you every time you exit your vehicle. If you are not used to having a child in the car, use a reminder to check the backseat before exiting, such as leaving your belongings in the backseat instead of the passenger seat.

When you park your vehicle, lock all the doors, even if parked in your garage. Put your car keys somewhere out of reach of children. This can help prevent children from opening the car and accidentally getting locked inside. Teach your kids the car is not a toy or play area. Tell them never to play hide-and-seek inside a vehicle – especially in the trunk. If you do not hear your children for a while, check your vehicle right away in case they have locked themselves inside.

If your child gets trapped in a hot car or you notice someone else’s child in this dangerous situation, call 911 immediately. Follow the responder’s instructions for what to do to help the child. This may include breaking the window of the vehicle. In Texas, you can legally break the window of a vehicle to access a child trapped inside if he or she appears in imminent danger. The owner of the vehicle cannot hold you liable for repairing the car as long as you did not cause more damage than was reasonably necessary. You have the power to prevent hot car deaths.