STOP LOOK LOCK: Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-traffic, non-crash, vehicle-related fatalities for children 14 and younger.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over the past 25 years, more than 970 children have died of heatstroke, because they were left or became trapped in a hot car. It’s important for everyone to understand these tragedies can happen to anyone – but they are always preventable. Heatstroke can happen even in temperatures as low as 60 degrees. With the sweltering temperatures our country has been experiencing recently, heatstroke can happen very quickly.

MAKE IT A RULE: NEVER EVER LEAVE A CHILD IN A VEHICLE. LOOK BEFORE YOU LOCK: STOP, LOOK, LOCK!

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Three people across the country are facing charges related to the deaths of young children left in hot cars during the heatwave this week. Tragically, a 2-month-old girl in NJ, died Monday after being left inside a hot car in Lakewood, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office . "On July 15, 2024, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department responded to the area of New Egypt Road for a report of a pediatric patient in cardiac arrest.  Responding Officers found Hatzolah Medical Services attempting to render lifesaving aid to an eight week-old female infant.  The infant was pronounced deceased at the scene."

Also, a 2-year-old in Arizona and a 5-year-old in Nebraska died this month, after being left in hot cars.

What is going on?

The devastating deaths have prompted renewed calls for safety awareness as a record-setting heat wave continues to grip much of the nation.

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On average, 10 children die per year due to vehicular heatstroke. In 2024, the recent incidents are the latest among at least 11 such child deaths nationwide so far this year and the year is only halfway through. This information is according to the nonprofit Kids and Car Safety.

It seems like an automatic common sense action to never leave your child in a car, let alone a hot car, but in this world full of distractions, heatstroke is the leading cause of non-traffic, non-crash, vehicle-related fatalities for children 14 and younger:

On average, 10 children die per year due to vehicular heatstroke. The three main scenarios in which heatstroke occurs are:

-Children are forgotten in vehicles by parents or caregivers.

-Children gain access to unlocked vehicles and become trapped inside. This can happen in your own driveway.

-Children are knowingly left in vehicles by parents or caregivers, because they are sleeping or the caregiver only thinks they will be gone for a "minute:"

Make it a habit to put your phone, briefcase, or purse in the back seat and before you get out of the car ask yourself "Where's baby?"

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