According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths in children younger than age 15. A child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s does. In only 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees and cracking a window or air conditioning does little to keep the car cool once it is turned off.
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services offers the following tips for caregivers to help prevent heatstroke deaths in vehicles:
- Teach children not to play in or around cars.
- Never leave a child unattended in or around a car. Make a habit of looking in the front and back seat of the car before locking the door and walking away.
- Never assume it can’t happen to you or your child. A change in routine or busy schedule can cause a caregiver to forget that a child is still in the car.
- If you cannot find a child, check the pool and water sources first, then check vehicles, including trunks.
- If you see an unattended child in or around a car, call 911.
More information from the Texas Department of State Health Services
