Pledge to Prevent Child Heatstroke in Cars
Heatstroke is the number one killer of children, outside of car crashes. That’s why the Administration for Children and Families has joined with the National Highway Traffic…read more
Safety Administration (NHTSA) to attempt to reduce these deaths by reminding parents and caregivers about the dangers of heatstroke and leaving children in hot cars.
Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash-related fatalities for children 14 and younger.
- From 1998-2013, 606 children died due to heatstroke, representing 61% of total non-crash fatalities in this age group. Of the 606 deaths:
- 52% were forgotten in the vehicle
- 29% gained access by themselves and became trapped
- 18% were left intentionally
- 1% were unknown cases
- In 2014, 29 children died of heatstroke in the U.S.
- Average annual number of child heatstroke fatalities since 1998: 38
- Children are at a higher risk than adults of dying from heatstroke in a hot vehicle especially when they are too young to communicate.
- Children overheat up to five times faster than adults.
For more information visit: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/interagency-projects/look-before-you-lock