Driving Tips To Help Prevent Hot Car Deaths

It seems like a simple ask, but there are still people leaving their children or their pets in vehicles thinking it's just a quick trip into the store, so they will be fine. However, over 900 children have died of heatstroke since 1998 because they were left or became trapped in a hot car. These are preventable deaths and we are sharing tips to make sure another hot car death doesn't happen.

Hot Car Deaths - The Facts

To familiarize yourself with the topic, here are some facts shared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding hot car deaths:

• Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees.
• A child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's. When a child is left in a hot vehicle, that child's temperature can rise quickly — and they could die within minutes. 
• A child can die when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.
• In 2021, 23 children died of vehicular heatstroke.
• In 2018 and 2019, we saw a record number of hot car deaths —  53 children died each year — the most in at least 20 years, according to NoHeatstroke.org.

Driving Tips - How To Prevent Hot Car Deaths

There are tips and things everyone should remember and focus on to help prevent hot car deaths. For parents and caregivers:

• Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle — front and back — before locking the door and walking away. Train yourself to Park, Look, Lock, or always ask yourself, "Where's Baby?"
• Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended — even if the windows are partially open or the engine is running, and the air conditioning is on.
• Place a personal item like a purse or briefcase in the back seat, as another reminder to look before you lock. Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger's seat to remind you that a child is in the back seat.
• Ask your childcare provider to call if your child doesn’t show up for care as expected. 
• Store car keys out of a child's reach and teach children that a vehicle is not a play area.

For everyone else, including bystanders:

• Always lock your car doors and trunk, year-round, so children can't get into unattended vehicles.
• If you see a child alone in a locked car, get them out immediately and call 911. A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's license journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.