Hot Car Deaths & Dangerous Heat Illnesses: Protect Your Kids

Heatstroke doesn’t only happen on hot days. Children are still at risk even in cooler temperatures because of how quickly a car can heat up. 

When temperatures are in the 90s, you know the inside of your vehicle gets hot — fast. But even temperatures in the 70s can make the inside of your car dangerously hot. So, how safe is it to leave your kids in the car while you run into the grocery to pick up a few things?

Not very, when it comes to your child's safety and health. Young bodies overheat three to five times faster than adults, putting them at greater risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. 

The majority of hot-car deaths happen when a caregiver forgets about the child in the car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And, experts warn, it can happen to any parent or caregiver. For example, an adult who normally doesn't drop a child off at daycare on the way to work may become distracted and forget that the child is in the vehicle as they rush to their office.

Key Takeaways: Car Temperatures Can Get Dangerously Hot

• A car’s internal temperature can rise 19 degrees in just 10 minutes, even if the outside temperature is only in the 70s.

• Cracking the windows does not significantly slow down the heating process or lower the temperature inside the vehicle.

• A child’s body overheats three to five times faster than an adult’s, making them much more susceptible to heatstroke and death.

• Use the "ACT" acronym to protect children in the heat. Avoid leaving children alone; Create reminders (like putting your phone in the backseat); and Take action if you see a child alone in a car.

How Fast Does Your Car Heat Up Inside?

In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up 19 degrees, making the inside temperature in the 90s on a 75-degree day, according to Franciscan Health Crown Point trauma performance improvement coordinator Elisse Trissel, RN.

Within 30 minutes, the inside temperature could increase as much as 34 degrees higher than the outside temperatures, or 109 on a 75-degree day. Your child or pet could die.

It's science — the vehicle's glass traps the heat, a type of greenhouse effect. And despite what most people believe, cracking the window doesn't help. The temperature keeps climbing, and at the same rate as if the window were closed. So, your child's risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke rises too.

What Are Signs Of Heat Exhaustion In Kids?

Infants and children up to age 4 are most at risk for heat-related illnesses. Signs of heat exhaustion include:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Heavy sweating
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea or vomiting
• Paleness
• Tiredness
• Weakness

How Should You Cool Your Child Down During Heat Exhaustion?

Left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, a medical emergency. Follow these steps to cool them down:

1. Move them to the shade or indoors.
2. Remove or loosen their clothing.
3. If your child is alert, place them in a lukewarm bath or use wet, cool cloths on their necks, arms and legs. 
4. Give them frequent sips of cool, clear fluids.

What Are Signs Of Heat Stroke In Kids?

Heat stroke begins when your body's core temperature reaches 104 degrees. When a child's temperature hits 107 degrees, it can be fatal. Signs of heat stroke may include:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Nausea
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no longer sweating)
• Throbbing headache
• Unconsciousness

What Should You Do If Your Child Shows Signs Of Heat Stroke?

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately. It's vital to cool your child's temperature as quickly as possible. Get started by using these steps while waiting for medical help:

1. Move your child out of the heat into the shade or indoors.
2. Cool them rapidly, placing them in a tub of cool water, in a shower or using water from a garden hose.
3. If medical help is delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.

How Can You Prevent Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke While In A Vehicle?

There's good news: by making a few simple habits a part of your routine, you can help keep your child safe. Trissel reminds us to put these vehicle-related safety tips into practice to prevent heat exhaustion, heatstroke and tragedies in vehicles:

• Pay attention to where your children are, especially when you're busy. Many of these tragedies occur during holidays, crises or schedule changes.
• Ask your babysitter, school or camp to call you if your child hasn't arrived as scheduled.
• Make sure your child can't get into your car on their own:
• Lock your vehicle, even in your garage or driveway.
• Keep your car keys out of reach.

If you see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911. If they seem hot or sick, get them out as fast as possible.

ACT When Transporting A Child In Your Cars

Think of the acronym ACT when transporting children in cars:

• A: Avoid leaving a child unattended in a vehicle.
• C: Create a reminder, such as leaving a purse in the backseat so the driver must open the back door before locking the vehicle.
• T: Take action right away.

Parents and caregivers should park, stop, look and then lock the door, the NHTSA urges.

Onlookers can also take action and possibly save a life. If you see a child alone in a vehicle, first make sure the child is O.K. and responsive. If the child is not responsive or is in distress, call 911 and attempt to get into the car to help.

Many states have "Good Samaritan" laws that protect individuals from lawsuits for getting involved to help someone in an emergency, the NHTSA notes.

Some newer cars offer warnings to remind drivers to check the back seat for passengers.

Frequently Asked Questions: Preventing Hot Car Deaths

How common are hot car deaths in children?

In 2025, 31 children died in hot cars, and six deaths have already been reported in 2026, according to the National Safety Council.

How can busy parents remember to check the back seat of my vehicle?

Parents and caregivers can take these steps to help protect their children from heat illnesses in vehicles:

• Announce who's helping each child out of your car to prevent leaving someone behind.
• Check car floorboards and the trunk — yours and the cars around you —if your child goes missing. They may have accidentally climbed into a car and locked the door.
• Leave something you will need that day –a phone, wallet or ID badge – in the backseat to make checking the back a habit.
• Open your car's back door every time you park. More than 80% of pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths happen at home or work.
• Teach your child to honk the horn if they get locked in the car.
• Use drive-throughs and pay for gas at the pump instead of going inside.

How common are hot car deaths among children playing in vehicles?

One-fourth of hot car deaths happen from children playing inside parked cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Keep your car locked when not in use, and never let a child be in an unattended vehicle.