Heatstroke - Never Leave Your Child Alone

Child sleeping in car seat

Did You Know…

  • Every year an average of 39 children across the US die from heat exposure in vehicles.
  • Since 1998, 32 children have died in NC from a being left in a hot vehicle.
  • North Carolina ranked 6th in the nation for heatstroke deaths in children under the age of 14.
  • Heatstroke deaths of children, as a result of being alone in a vehicle, occur for one of three reasons:

              54% - child was forgotten by parent or caregiver.
              26% - child was playing in an unattended vehicle and became trapped.
              19% - child was intentionally left by an adult.

  • The temperature inside a vehicle can rise 19 degrees in just 10 minutes.
  • A child's body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult.
  • Every Heatstroke death in a vehicle is preventable.

Top Safety Tips

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

ACT = Avoid - Create - Take

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.