BEDFORD — WBIW is warning about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, even on seemingly mild days, as internal car temperatures can quickly become deadly.
Even with outdoor temperatures in the low 70s, the inside of a parked car with closed windows can rapidly escalate to 120 degrees or more. Authorities emphasize that these tragic incidents are preventable.
A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s, making them highly susceptible to heatstroke. Heatstroke can begin when a child’s core body temperature reaches approximately 104 degrees, and a child can die when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.
Nationally, 29 children died of vehicular heatstroke in 2023. This follows record numbers in 2018 and 2019, when 53 children died each year, the highest figures in at least 25 years, according to NoHeatstroke.org.
Parents and caregivers can prevent these fatalities by adopting several safety habits:
- Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. Rolling down windows or parking in the shade offers little protection from rising interior temperatures.
- Make it a habit to check the entire vehicle, especially the back seat, before locking the doors and walking away.
- Arrange for childcare providers to call if a child does not arrive as expected.
- Place a personal item, such as a purse or briefcase, in the back seat as a reminder to check before exiting the vehicle. Alternatively, place a note or a stuffed animal in the passenger’s seat.
- Store car keys out of a child’s reach and teach children that vehicles are not play areas.
If a child is seen alone in a locked car, authorities urge immediate action by calling 911. A child showing signs of heat distress should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.
