Products Liability Law Daily Wrap Up, NHTSA NEWS—MOTOR VEHICLES—NHTSA campaign urges public to prevent child heatstroke deaths, (May 9, 2025)
By WK Editorial Staff
Thirty-nine children died from vehicular heatstroke in 2024.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is calling on the public to help prevent child heatstroke deaths in vehicles. The agency emphasizes the importance of the "Stop. Look. Lock." routine for drivers every time they park their vehicles to avoid these preventable tragedies (NHTSA Press Release (May 1, 2025)).
According to NHTSA, 39 children died from vehicular heatstroke in 2024, a significant increase from the 29 deaths recorded in 2023. Already this year, one child has tragically lost their life under similar circumstances. Since 1998, over 1,000 children have died from heatstroke in non-crash vehicle-related incidents in the United States.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy, a father of nine, expressed his concern, stating, "But there is no excuse for leaving a child in a parked vehicle. Every parent, sibling, relative, and babysitter needs to understand the severity of doing so – it's the only way we can prevent more of these heartbreaking losses of life.”
Peter Simshauser, NHTSA Chief Counsel, highlighted that these incidents could happen to anyone and stressed the importance of vigilance. “Every one of these tragedies is preventable, and we urge parents and caregivers to make it a habit to Stop. Look. Lock. every time they exit their car to prevent these devastating tragedies. And if you see a child left alone in a car, call 911 immediately – you could save a life,” said Simshauser.
NHTSA points out that vehicles can heat up rapidly, with temperatures rising 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. Even on cooler days, with temperatures as low as 60 degrees, the environment inside a parked car can quickly become lethal for a child.
Safety tips. To combat this issue, NHTSA offers several tips to ensure child safety:
Always lock your vehicle when not in use to prevent children from entering.
Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, not even for a minute.
Routinely check the entire vehicle, particularly the back seat, before locking it and walking away. Visual reminders like placing a stuffed animal in the passenger seat or a personal item in the back can help.
Ensure your child’s school or childcare provider alerts you if your child does not arrive as scheduled.
Educate children that vehicles are not play areas, and keep car keys out of their reach.
Take immediate action by calling 911 if you see a child alone in a vehicle.
For more detailed information and resources, the public is encouraged to visit TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov.
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