Toddlers have endless energy and imagination. They’re always looking for a fun place to play and can be easily tempted to climb inside a parked car to play - without being able to get back out on their own. That puts them at risk for heatstroke, even in cooler temperatures.  

Hard Facts about Heatstroke

• Since 1998, more than 700 children died from heatstroke while left unattended in vehicles. In more than half of these deaths, the caregiver forgot the child was in the car, while more than a quarter happened when a child was playing in an unattended car.  
• A car can heat up 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. Cracking a window doesn’t help.
• Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult.

Top Tips for Preventing Heatstroke

Reduce the number of deaths from heatstroke by remembering to ACT.

1. Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not inside so kids don’t get in on their own.  
2. Create reminders. Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase or purse in the backseat when traveling with your child. 
3. Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations

Learn More

It’s important for all parents to know how to protect little kids from heatstroke. Here are some additional tips to help you out.