Take action on National Heatstroke Prevention Day to help save lives

In support of National Heatstroke Prevention Day (July 31), the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Safe Kids Worldwide is asking the public to act to help save lives.  Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash related vehicle fatalities for kids 14 and younger in the United States.   In the first six months of 2017, 26 children nationwide died of heatstroke after being left in a car.  

NHTSA cautions that temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes, which is why it’s vitally important to never leave a child alone in a parked car; keep the keys out of a child’s reach and look in both the front and back of the vehicle before locking the door and walking away.  

The agency’s public education campaign “Where’s Baby? Look Before You Lock” offers the following safety tips.

For Parents and Caregivers:  Remind yourself that the child is in the car.

• Place a briefcase, purse, or cell phone next to the child’s car seat so that you’ll always check the back seat before leaving the car.
• Call your spouse or another caregiver to confirm you’ve dropped your child off.
• Have your daycare provider call you if your child doesn’t arrive.
• Write a note and place it on the dashboard of your car, or set a reminder on your cell phone or calendar.

For Bystanders: Actions to take if you see a child alone in a vehicle:

• Always make sure the child is okay and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
• If the child appears to be okay, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility’s security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
• If the child is not responsive and appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child—even if that means breaking a window.

To help raise awareness, on July 31^st, NHTSA is engaging in an all-day social media conversation designed to inform the public about the dangers that heatstroke can pose to kids left in cars.  Every 30 minutes, starting at 7 a.m. ET, the agency will be using the hashtags #heatstrokekills and #checkforbaby on all of its social media posts.   To learn more visit  nhtsa.gov/heatstroke.  

Stay connected with NHTSA: Search for open recalls with VIN look up | Download the Safercar Mobile App for Apple or Android devices | Receive recall alerts by email | Visit us on Facebook.com/NHTSA | Follow us on Twitter.com/NHTSAgov | Watch 5-Star Safety Ratings crash tests on YouTube.com/USDOTNHTSA