Hot car deaths: 2 children dead amid West Coast heat wave

The inside temperature of a car parked in a sunny spot rockets to dangerous levels in minutes. The rate at which temperatures rise the fastest occurs within the first 10 minutes.

Two more children have died in hot cars, bringing the death toll in just four days to four. The most recent death occurred Sunday in Buckeye, Arizona where police say family members found a 4-year-old in a car. Authorities say the family had returned from a park and believed everyone had gotten out of the car, ABC15 reported.

The temperature in Buckeye was 106 degrees F on Sunday afternoon.

On Friday, Sept. 6, a 3-year-old girl died after being locked inside a vehicle in Anaheim, California, Fox11 in Los Angeles reported. According to Anaheim police the girl and her mother, a woman in her 40s, were found in the car after someone reported an emergency. Both were taken to the hospital where the toddler later died. Temperatures in Anaheim on Sunday reached 108 degrees F amid a West Coast heat wave.

These latest tragic deaths bring this year's death toll in the United States to at least 31 children, which is more than last year's total of 29, according to Kids and Car Safety. The highest number of deaths occurred in 2018 with 54 reports.

Two children in Norman, Oklahoma died after being left inside a hot car Thursday. Family members found the toddlers on a day when temperatures reached 90 degrees F outside, Norman police said.

The temperature inside a car parked in the sun rockets to dangerous levels in minutes. The rate at which temperatures rise the fastest occurs within the first 10 minutes.

Heatstroke can start when the body reaches a core temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Death can occur at 107 degrees. Because a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s, a hot car can quickly become dangerous. Dogs left in cars face the same risk; their only way to cool down is through sweat glands on their paws or by panting.

Nationwide hot car deaths: A disturbing trend

Hot car deaths continue to be a pressing concern across the country. Since 1990, at least 1,093 children have lost their lives after being left in vehicles, according to KidsAndCarSafety.org. An additional 7,500 children have survived with varying degrees of injuries. Nearly 90% of these victims are 3 years old or younger.

Kids and Car Safety is also monitoring three additional child fatalities pending autopsy results. The organization has tracked hot vehicle deaths for years and is pushing automakers to add more technology to prevent them.

For more resources on preventing hot car deaths, visit the Kids and Car Safety website.