In the span of 10 minutes, a car can heat up by 20 degrees, enough to kill a child left alone in the vehicle. The U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and other safety advocates and academic institutions have recognized the safety threat heatstroke poses for children left unattended in hot cars.
It can happen to anyone.
• In 54 percent of cases, the child was forgotten by the caregiver.
• In 26 percent of cases, children got into the vehicles on their own.
• The children most at risk are those under 1 year, making up 32 percent of heatstroke deaths.
Remember these three things:
• NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended.
• Make it a habit to look in the back seat EVERY time you exit the car.
• ALWAYS lock the car and put the keys out of reach.