Preventing Child Heatstroke Deaths and Injuries in Hot Cars

Virtual Events

As the weather heats up, now is a good time to remind everyone of the dangers of heatstroke when children are left unattended in vehicles. The temperature in a parked vehicle rises very quickly and a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s — that combination can be deadly. Since 1998, nearly 900 children have died from being left in hot cars nationwide.

Join the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for live virtual press conferences on April 29 as we discuss how to help prevent child deaths and injuries in hot cars. Acting NHTSA Administrator Dr. Steven Cliff will deliver remarks emphasizing NHTSA’s commitment to preventing hot car deaths.

10:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. CT) 

The following Texas representatives will join NHTSA Deputy Regional Administrator Brian Jones to talk about child heatstroke deaths. Texas has led the United States with 132 vehicular heatstroke deaths since 1998.

• Johnny Humphreys, Chair, Texas Heatstroke Taskforce
• Kristen Beckworth, Manager, Center for Childhood Injury Prevention, Texas Children’s Hospital
• Randy Chhabra, Captain, Austin-Travis County EMS 

1 p.m. ET 

The following Georgia representatives will join NHTSA Regional Administrator Carmen Hayes to talk about the issue and share prevention tips. 

• Allen Poole, Director, Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
• Amy Jacobs, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Early Childhood and Learning
• Dr. Maneesha Agarwal, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
• Lisa Dawson, Director, Injury Prevention Program, Division of Health Protection, Georgia Department of Public Health  

The events also kick off NHTSA’s national Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock paid media campaign and National Heatstroke Prevention Awareness Day on May 1.