Hot Cars Can be Deadly

It's a heartbreaking reality: every year, children die in hot cars.

In 2008, more than 40 children lost their life to heat-related illnesses after being left or trapped in a hot vehicle. Already in 2009, 13 variations of this story have made headlines across the country.

Like so many unintentional accidents, nobody thinks it can happen to them. A local woman shared her family's experience with the 33. I'll warn you, you should probably grab a tissue now.



Because a young child's core body temperature increases three to five times faster than an adult's, it doesn't take long for a hot car to become deadly. This animation from GM shows just how fast a car - even in moderate temperatures - warms to more than 123 degrees.

Heat stroke occurs when the body's core temperature reaches 104 degrees; a core body temperature of 107 degrees is considered lethal. In just 20 minutes, a car in 80 degree heat, is more than 107 degrees inside.

Teach young kids to never play in or around cars. Kids can easily get trapped behind a closed door or in the trunk of a vehicle. More than a third of these hot car deaths are linked to kids who were playing in an unattended vehicle.

More than half were forgotten by their caregiver. With busy lives and sometimes unpredictable schedules, always double check that everyone gets out of the car, and don't forget about a sleeping baby who is likely in a rear-facing car seat.

For more tips on keeping your kids safe this summer season, visit SafeKids Worldwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury. Children's is a proud member of this life-saving organization.