The Danger of Heatstroke
Every 10 days, across the United States, a child dies from being unattended in a hot car. As summer temperatures rise, more kids are at risk. Help stop these tragedies from happening by working with us to prevent heatstroke.
For Parents | For Child Care Providers | For First Responders | For Bloggers | All Tools | Badge of Courage
Take-Action Toolkits
In 2017, 42 children died from heatstroke, which resulted from being alone in a hot car. These deaths were preventable. Spread the word about the dangers of heatstroke and make your voice heard. Click on the tabs for helpful tools to get you started.
For Parents
The best way moms and dads can prevent heatstroke is by learning what you need to do to keep your kids safe. You can also talk about the dangers of children being left alone in cars to your family, friends and neighbors. Read our tips and share with your child care provider, school and community. Post a message on Facebook or Twitter to alert others to the danger.
For Child Care Providers
As a child care professional, you can help prevent heatstroke by educating yourself, your staff and parents about the dangers of heatstroke. Post a flyer in your facility and share safety tips with parents. You should also consider creating a program to alert parents if a child doesn’t show up to child care as expected. These efforts can save a life.
For First Responders
First responders are in a good position to make a huge difference in preventing heatstroke. By knowing the facts, posting flyers and sharing safety information with your colleagues and community, you can be on the front lines of reducing these tragedies.
| Community Outreach | Promotional Materials | Media Tool Kit | Rapid Response | Badge of Courage Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visit the section below for materials. |
For Bloggers
Do you want to help get the word out to your audience about how to prevent an injury or death of a child in a hot car? Consider writing a blog post or using your Facebook or Twitter to help educate others about the issue. Here are some to tools to get you started.
- Social Media Guide
- Tip Sheet (PDF) | HTML | Spanish
For more information contact our director of communications, Mary Hickey.
All Tools
Here’s a list of all the resources you need to speak out and spread the word about heatstroke.
| Media Tool Kit | Press Conference Tool Kit | Rapid Response | Graphic Materials | Video | Other |
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Nominate Someone in Your Community for the Badge of Courage Award
A small act of courage can make a big difference in the life of a child. That’s why we’ve created the Safe Kids Worldwide Badge of Courage, an award that acknowledges the caring individuals who called 911 when they noticed a child alone in a hot car, as well as the brave professionals who responded and saved a child’s life. To nominate someone for a Badge of Courage, please fill out this form.