As a community, we all share the responsibility of keeping each other safe, especially our most vulnerable members. During warmer months, the temperature inside a parked car can rise dangerously fast, reaching 100°F or more within just 10 minutes, even if the windows are cracked. Children and pets can suffer heatstroke quickly, and their bodies are less able to regulate temperature.
In the U.S., an average of 37 children die each year from heatstroke after being left in or becoming trapped in a hot vehicle, according to the National Safety Council. In 2024, 39 children died in hot cars.
Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reported 163 pet deaths due to heat-related complications, and 855 rescues from heat-related conditions all over the country in 2023 and 111 deaths and 388 rescues in 2024.
So, if you see a child or pet alone in a vehicle, take action immediately:
- Call 911 right away and provide the vehicle’s location, description, and condition of the child or animal.
- Stay by the car until emergency responders arrive.
- If the situation appears life-threatening and help hasn’t arrived, some states allow you to take necessary steps to intervene—know your local Good Samaritan laws.
Prevention
Keeping children and pets safe from a potential hot car tragedy starts with car owners.
Here are some basic prevention strategies to put in place over the summer months.
For children:
- Don’t think it couldn’t happen to you – Every parent or caregiver needs to be aware of the danger.
- Slow down and avoid distractions – Being over-tired and over-stressed, as many parents are, can result in a child being forgotten in the backseat, especially when regular routines are disrupted.
- Look before you lock – Place a purse, briefcase, work ID or even a left shoe in the back seat so that you are forced to take one last look before locking up and walking away.
- Always keep car doors locked – When your car is in the driveway or garage, keep the doors locked so children cannot gain access. Teach them that cars are not play areas.
- Safely store car keys and fobs – Young children love to get their hands on keys and fobs. Keep them out of reach.
- Ask your child’s school, daycare, babysitter or preschool to contact you if your child does not show up where they are supposed to be.
- Don’t do it. Not even for a minute – There is no safe time to leave a child in a vehicle, even if you are just running a quick errand.
For pets:
- Don’t leave your dog in the car alone, even if it’s just going to buy eggs and milk. As much as we would all love to always have our fur babies with us, they are better off at home alone than in a hot car.
- Don’t underestimate the temperature – Pets can suffer heat exhaustion even when the weather seems cool. In just 70-degree weather, the temperature inside of a car can reach 100 degrees in just 20 minutes. Dogs can experience heat exhaustion, when their body temperatures reach just 103 degrees.
- Open windows don’t keep a dog safe – Studies show a parked car with the windows cracked heats up at almost the exact same rate as a car with the windows rolled up.
- If you can’t leave your pup at home, and you can’t bring them into the store, make sure your car is cool – Parking in a shady spot that you’re confident will stay shady is an easy way to prevent your car from getting too hot, but that alone won’t be enough. Cracking open two windows, one in the front and one on the opposite side in the back, will allow for cross-ventilation, so air isn’t just sitting stagnant.
- Always ensure that your pet has access to water while in the car.
In short, whether you are driving with children or pets, always “look before you lock,” and keep a reminder in the front seat if a child or pet is in the back. Encourage neighbors and friends to do the same. A few seconds of awareness can prevent a lifetime of heartbreak. Let’s work together to keep everyone in our community safe this summer.