The Franklin Lakes Police Department and NHTSA Urge Families and Caregivers: Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock.
From Franklin Lakes Police
Vehicular heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related death for children 14 and younger in the United States. The Franklin Lakes Police Department and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urge parents and caregivers to learn about and share critical information about the dangers of leaving children alone in hot cars. Help NHTSA spread the word: Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock.
Since 1998, when safety advocates first began tracking, vehicular heatstroke has killed more than 1,000 children. On average, one child dies from heatstroke every 10 days in the United States from being left in a car or crawling into an unlocked vehicle. Tragically, every single one of these deaths could have been prevented.
Hot cars are deadly: Internal vehicle temperatures can rise quickly and become up to 50 degrees warmer than outside air temperatures. Because a child’s body temperature increases 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s, even a cool day outside may still pose a threat to a child.
In 2024, 39 children died due to vehicular heatstroke, an increase from the 29 children who died in 2023. The death rate decreased in 2020, but has slowly increased over the past few years. On average, 37 children die each year as a result of vehicular heatstroke.
Toddlers and young children are also at risk of vehicular heatstroke, and they are more likely to climb into a vehicle without supervision. Children “gaining access” to a vehicle accounts for nearly one-quarter of hot car deaths. It is a parent or caregiver’s responsibility to teach children that the vehicle is not a playground, and playing in and around a car is dangerous.
“Parents and caregivers think this sort of tragedy could never happen to them,” said Chief Mark McCombs. “Sadly, ‘never’ does happen. Anyone is susceptible to forgetfulness. It doesn’t matter who is taking care of the child, what their background is, or where they come from: Routines are often upended. It is during these moments of hurriedness and change in routine that many of these tragedies occur. Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock.”
The Franklin Lakes Police Department and NHTSA urge all parents and caregivers to take three simple steps to help prevent hot car deaths.
Vehicular heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related death for children 14 and younger in the United States. The Franklin Lakes Police Department and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urge parents and caregivers to learn about and share critical information about the dangers of leaving children alone in hot cars. Help NHTSA spread the word: Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock.
Since 1998, when safety advocates first began tracking, vehicular heatstroke has killed more than 1,000 children. On average, one child dies from heatstroke every 10 days in the United States from being left in a car or crawling into an unlocked vehicle. Tragically, every single one of these deaths could have been prevented.
Hot cars are deadly: Internal vehicle temperatures can rise quickly and become up to 50 degrees warmer than outside air temperatures. Because a child’s body temperature increases 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s, even a cool day outside may still pose a threat to a child.
In 2024, 39 children died due to vehicular heatstroke, an increase from the 29 children who died in 2023. The death rate decreased in 2020, but has slowly increased over the past few years. On average, 37 children die each year as a result of vehicular heatstroke.
Toddlers and young children are also at risk of vehicular heatstroke, and they are more likely to climb into a vehicle without supervision. Children “gaining access” to a vehicle accounts for nearly one-quarter of hot car deaths. It is a parent or caregiver’s responsibility to teach children that the vehicle is not a playground, and playing in and around a car is dangerous.
“Parents and caregivers think this sort of tragedy could never happen to them,” said Chief Mark McCombs. “Sadly, ‘never’ does happen. Anyone is susceptible to forgetfulness. It doesn’t matter who is taking care of the child, what their background is, or where they come from: Routines are often upended. It is during these moments of hurriedness and change in routine that many of these tragedies occur. Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock.”
The Franklin Lakes Police Department and NHTSA urge all parents and caregivers to take three simple steps to help prevent hot car deaths.
- When getting out of a car, make it a habit to look in the back seat EVERY time.
- NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended, even for one minute.
- ALWAYS lock the car and put the keys out of reach.
- 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 there are two people around, one person should actively search for the parent while the other waits at the car.
- If the child is not responsive or appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child — even if that means breaking a window. Some states have “Good Samaritan” laws that protect people for getting involved to help a person in an emergency.
- red, hot, and moist or dry skin;
- no sweating;
- a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse;
- nausea;
- confusion; or
- acting strangely.