National Heatstroke Prevention Day

Every year, children lose their lives in hot cars, and these tragedies are completely preventable. Over the past 25 years, more than 1,010 children in the United States have died from heatstroke after being left in or becoming trapped in a vehicle. On average, that’s one child every 10 days.

To help stop these incidents, the DC Highway Safety Office reminds everyone to follow a simple rule: Stop. Look. Lock. May 1 is National Heatstroke Prevention Day, but this is something to remember every single day.

The numbers are moving in the wrong direction. In 2024, 39 children died nationwide, including 3 in DC, from vehicular heatstroke, up from 29 in 2023, and one child has already died this year. These tragedies don’t just happen on extremely hot days. A car’s temperature can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. Even on a 60-degree day, the inside of a vehicle can become too hot fast. Cracking the windows or parking in the shade doesn’t make a big enough difference. Children are especially at risk because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults. Heatstroke can begin when a child’s temperature hits 104 degrees and can become fatal at 107 degrees.

It’s important that everyone, parents, relatives, babysitter, understands just how serious this is. No one expects to forget a child, but it happens more often and more quickly than people think, which is why building habits like Stop. Look. Lock. is so important.

Here are a few reminders:

·      Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a minute

·      Always check the back seat before locking your car

·      Put a purse, briefcase, or even a stuffed animal in the back seat as a reminder

·      Ask your child’s school or childcare provider to call if your child doesn’t show up

It’s also important to think beyond your own family. Always lock your car and keep keys out of reach as many children have died after climbing into unlocked vehicles. Teach kids that cars are not play areas. And if you ever see a child alone in a car, call 911 right away. If the child looks overheated, get help immediately and act fast. If the child appears to be in distress, take action to remove them from the vehicle and begin cooling them down. Time is critical in these situations, and your quick response could save a life. These tragedies can happen to anyone, but with awareness, simple habits, and looking out for each other, they don’t have to happen at all.