Texas spring is an early indicator of summer. While mornings may begin at a mild 60°F, temperatures often quickly rise into the 80s by midday. To ensure the community stays safe as the heat intensifies, Cook Children's Health Care System experts Viviana Esparza, program coordinator for community health, and Sharon Evans, trauma injury prevention manager, are urging families to stay informed.  Their goal is simple: preventing

“Never leave your child alone in a car, not even for a second,” said Evans.

The first hot car death in the nation this year was reported in late March. A 1-year-old in Florida was left in the vehicle while the outside temperature was 86 degrees.

“In just 10 minutes temperatures can rise 20 degrees in a car,” explained Esparza.

In 2025, Texas recorded eight hot car deaths, nationwide 31 hot car deaths were reported according to noheatstroke.com. Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) shows the state surpassed the number of hot car deaths in early July with four fatalities. These figures make vehicular heatstroke the second-leading cause of vehicle-related deaths for children under 15, trailing only car crashes.

“A child's body heats up about three to five times faster than an adult and so the heat really takes a toll on them,” explained Evans.

The data behind the danger

According to Kids and Car Safety, 52.9% of hot car child deaths occur when a child is forgotten. Parents or caregivers can suffer from exhaustion due to lack of sleep, stress, and changes in their normal routine. Any one of these can cause a parent or caregiver's memory to fail at a time when it’s least expected.

Additionally, 23.8% of these deaths are due to a child gaining access to an unlocked vehicle or a child getting the keys. Evans recommends teaching toddlers and preschool-aged children to honk the horn if they become trapped, enabling them to draw attention to the vehicle.

Esparza noted the third most common cause is knowingly leaving a child in a vehicle for a quick errand. DSHS emphasizes a cracked window does not protect a child or pet from heatstroke.

Prevention is Key

Evans and Esparza encourage families to remember the acronym ACT to prevent a hot car death.

• A: AVOID heatstroke and other heat-related injuries by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. When the vehicle is at home, keep the doors locked and keys or key fobs out of a child's reach.
• C: CREATE reminders. Place an item you need in the back of your car or next to your child, such as a bag, wallet or cellphone. This is especially important if you're not following your normal routine. If your child is with a care provider, ensure vehicle-related procedures are in place, such as vehicle searches or locking vehicles when not in use. Use technology to your advantage and use apps or other communication methods with your childcare provider.
• T: TAKE action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 9-1-1. Emergency personnel want you to call, and they are trained to respond swiftly to these situations. One call could save a life.

Related stories:

• Preventing Hot Car Tragedies: Experts Offer Vital Tips as Texas Sees Spike in Child Deaths
• How to Spot a Counterfeit Car Seat
• Expert Tips for a Safe Spring Break: Car Safety

With the temperature reaching 104 the other day, I was shocked to see a toddler by himself in the car outside of a restaurant. I rushed inside and found his mom, who waited in line for her to go order. As soon as the mom unlocked the car and I knew the child was safe, I left but could not get this scenario out of my mind.

“There is no amount of time that is safe to leave a child in the car,” said Sharon Evans, RN, BSN, CPN, CPSTI, trauma injury prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s. “It’s not worth the risk to run into a restaurant because before you know it five or 10 minutes have gone by, and the temperature could have reached a dangerous level. If a child is left in the car and something happens, there is no way to justify it.”

Since May 1, MedStar emergency medical crews have responded to nine incidents where a child was left in a hot car. All were under 6 years old.

Only 20 states have laws that make it illegal to leave a child unattended in a vehicle – Texas being one of them. In only 10 minutes, a car’s temperature rises 19 degrees, and cracking windows has no effect. Since 1998, 920 children are known to have died in the U.S. of pediatric vehicular heatstroke (PVH), 13 of those deaths happening this year. Texas leads all states with 137 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths.

“When a core body temperature of 107 degrees or greater is reached, cells are damaged and internal organs begin to shut down,” Evans said. “A child’s thermoregulatory system is not as efficient as an adult’s and the body temperature warms at a rate three to five times faster.”

Sharon became part of the Texas Heatstroke Task Force which formed in 2011 after a Safe Kids Worldwide meeting. The Task Force provides heatstroke prevention education.

“Our goal is to provide awareness about pediatric vehicular heatstroke to prevent these deaths from happening,” said Johnny Humphreys, Texas Heatstroke Task Force Chair.

How Everyone Can Help Prevent Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke Deaths 

Evans says that everyone needs to be aware of locking their car doors, because some kids, especially those with special needs, think of the car as their safe haven.

“Some children with autism find comfort from the vibration of the car, so they may escape to an unlocked vehicle,” Evans said. “The problem is that sometimes they can get into the car but not out of it.”

Besides locking doors, everyone can be on the lookout for children left in cars. The Texas Good Samaritan Law allows you to rescue a child in a hot car if five conditions are met.

Tips for Parents and Caregivers of Young Children

Research shows the majority of people are in overdrive and functioning on autopilot. Be on alert if there is a change in routine such as dad dropping off the child at daycare instead of mom and proactively plan for it. Leave an important belonging such as a shoe or purse in the backseat by the child so you automatically go there before walking away from the car.

“I know some couples who text each other every morning after dropping off their child at daycare,” Humphreys said. “That way if one parent doesn’t receive their daily text, they can double check to be sure the child is OK.”

ACT – Prevention Method

Avoid heatstroke-related injury by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even during a quick trip into a store. Always lock your doors and trunks — including in your driveway or garage. If a child is missing, check the pool and water sources first, then check vehicles, including trunks.

Create reminders. Keep a stuffed animal or other mementos in your child's seat when it's empty and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase or purse in the backseat when traveling.

“One kind of memory is based on repetitive actions,” Humphreys said. “By using one of these methods every time you drive the car, it will become a habit.”

Take Action. If you see a child alone in a car, take action. Call 911.

More info:

Good Samaritan Law in Texas for removing certain persons from a vehicle (texas.gov)

On Tuesday, Cook Children's set up a digital thermometer display and a vehicle demonstration to raise awareness of hot car dangers and show how high the internal temperatures of a vehicle can soar.

Dana Walraven, manager of Community Health Outreach at Cook Children’s and coordinator with Safe Kids North Texas Fort Worth, shared advice for parents and caregivers as temperatures remain in the 90s and 100s.

Young children are particularly at risk for heatstroke, or hyperthermia, because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. Because cars heat up so quickly tragedies can happen faster than you think. Creating reminders like putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as one of your shoes, a purse or a cell phone is especially important on days when you're not following a normal routine.

So far this summer, MedStar Emergency crews have responded to three incidents where a child was left in a hot car in Tarrant County; all were under 4 years old. 

A car can heat up 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. And cracking a window doesn’t help.

To reduce the number of child vehicular heatstroke deaths, parents should remember to ACT:

Avoid heatstroke-related injury by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Always lock your doors and trunks— including in your driveway or garage. If a child goes missing, check the pool first, and then check the vehicles, including trunks.

Create reminders. Routinely place something you'll need at your next stop—like a purse, briefcase or cellphone—in the backseat.

Take Action. If you see a child alone in a car, take action. Call 911.

2022 Hot Car Deaths | KidsandCars.org

The Houston Chronicle reports the child was left in the back of a daycare bus by a driver and chaperone following a field trip. The bus arrived at 3 p.m. and the child was not discovered until around 6:30 p.m. when his father arrived to pick him up.

Deputies on the scene believed the boy may have fallen asleep during the 12-minute drive from the park back to the daycare and he did not wake up as more than the 20 other kids were taken inside.

The temperature inside the bus was recorded at 113 degrees, but that reading was taken after rescuers opened the doors.

Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said the bus driver and chaperone could face criminal charges, but that would ultimately be up to the Houston Police Department detectives and prosecutors with the county’s District Attorney’s Office.

“This was really just gross negligence,” Rosen said. “As a result, a child lost his life.”

The child was the twenty-sixth pediatric vehicular heatstroke death in the nation this year, according to noheatstroke.org. There have been 769 child vehicular deaths in the U.S. since 1998.

Texas leads the nation in children dying from pediatric vehicular heatstroke with 17 deaths in the past 20 years.

“Every time we hear of a child dying in a hot car, it’s heartbreaking for all of us,” said Sharon Evans, Trauma Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s. “It’s especially devastating because these deaths are preventable."

A child dies from heatstroke about once every 10 days from being unattended in a hot vehicle. Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle fatality for kids 14 and younger. In more than half of these deaths, the caregiver forgot the child was in the car or the child climbed into an unlocked car to play and couldn't get themselves out.

Heatstroke, or hyperthermia, occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.

Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a child’s internal temperature gets to 104 degrees, major organs begin to shut down. And when that child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child can die.

Because of this, and because cars heat up so quickly – 19 degrees in 10 minutes – tragedies can happen faster than you think. Symptoms can quickly progress from flushed, dry skin and vomiting to seizures, organ failure and death.

“Heat is much more dangerous to children than it is to adults,” Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s and Safe Kids Tarrant County Coordinator. “When left in a hot vehicle, a young child’s core body temperature may increase 3 to 5 times faster than that of an adult. This could cause permanent injury or death.”

Safe Kids recommend the “ACT” method to prevent tragedy to your child or to a child you see left in a car:

• A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.

• C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. Another idea is to take off one of your shoes and place it in the backseat. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.

• T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

  Click to learn more about vehicle/car safety here.

The highs this week will be above 100, with temperatures expected to reach 105 degrees. As we head into the scorching heat, it’s important to remember that infants and young children rely on adults to keep them cool, hydrated and safe while outside.

Stay Cool

Too much time out in high temperatures can cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

"As the outside temperature rises, your family's risk of heat stroke rises right along with it," said Corwin Warmink, M.D., medical director of Emergency Service at Cook Children’s. “On 100-degree days, it's best to stay inside. If temperatures exceed 90 degrees, stay in the shade and keep a close eye on the kids."

Take these steps during the summer to prevent heatstroke and heat exhaustion:

• Wear appropriate clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes. Wear a hat to shield yourself from the sun, until you feel yourself getting warm. Then remove any items covering your head which can trap heat close to the body.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully: Heatstroke can occur in less than an hour when you are participating in strenuous activity during a hot day. Try to limit outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so your child’s body has a chance to recover.
• Hydrate: Drink plenty of water during the day, especially if you are engaged in any strenuous activity. Be sure to drink water or a sports drink before, during and after any strenuous activity.
• Ventilate: Stay where there’s plenty of air circulating to keep the body cool. If you are without air conditioning, visit a shopping mall or public library. Remember, electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperatures reach the 90s, they will probably not prevent heat-related illness. A bath or cool shower is a much better way to stay cool.
• Wear Sunscreen: If you got outside, use sunscreen, wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and put on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outside. Continue to reapply according to the package directions.

Don’t Leave Your Child Alone In A Car

Over the weekend, a 6-month-old girl in Ohio and 17-month old boy in Florida died after being left inside vehicles. Twenty-four children have died in hot cars in the United States this year, according to noheastroke.org.

Since 1998, 767 children have died nationally as a result of being left in a car. Texas leads the nation in children dying from pediatric vehicular heatstroke with 16 deaths since 1998.

For the Trauma department at Cook Children’s, statistics are much more than numbers. They represent very real, too often tragic consequences.

“Every time we hear of a child dying in a hot car, it’s heartbreaking for all of us,” said Sharon Evans, Trauma Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s. “It’s especially devastating because these deaths are preventable."

For More Information On This Topic:

• Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness - CDC
• Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
• Child Safety Center
• Vehicle/Car Safety
• Drowning Prevention

It was a horrible reminder of the deadly consequences of what can happen when a child is left alone in a car.

Texas leads the nation in children dying from hypethermia after being left alone in an automobile with 55 deaths since 2010. Since 1998, 744 children have died nationally as a result of vehicular heatstroke.

For the Trauma department at Cook Children’s, statistics are much more than numbers. They represent very real, too often tragic consequences.

“Every time we hear of a child dying in a hot car, it’s heartbreaking for all of us,” said Sharon Evans, Trauma Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s. “It’s especially devastating because these deaths are preventable.”

Evans admits to frustration that these deaths continue to occur, but she’s encouraged by a law that could save children’s lives.

The "HOT CARS Act of 2017" would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to enforce that all new cars would be equipped with various alert systems to remind adults a child is in the back seat. The bill is currently attached to another that has passed the House and Senate committee. It’s awaiting a vote on the Senate floor.

To learn more about the hot car legislation, click here.

Already this year, two children have died after being left alone in a car. A 1-year-old child died in Miami in February when the temperature was 81 degrees and a child died this month in North Charleston, S.C., when it was 84 degrees outside.

“We’ve seen children die in the winter months before,” Evans said. “There is never a safe time to leave your child in a car. We hope people will take extra precaution and know that there's never a safe way or time to leave a child in the car.”

Hyperthermia, also known as heatstroke, is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children. It occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.

Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a child’s internal temperature gets to 104 degrees, major organs begin to shut down. And when that child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child can die.

Because of this, and because cars heat up so quickly – 19 degrees in 10 minutes – tragedies can happen faster than you think. Symptoms can quickly progress from flushed, dry skin and vomiting to seizures, organ failure and death.

“It truly doesn’t have to be a ‘hot’ day in Texas for a death to occur,” said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children's. “The temperature inside a vehicle can quickly climb over 20 degrees hotter than outdoor temperature. So even a cool day in Texas can become dangerous very quickly. Since children’s body heat rises three to five times faster than adults, it’s important to know that temperatures can become deadly any time of year.”

For More Information About This Topic:

• Hot Cars Act
• Vehicle/Car Safety
• Trauma Services at Cook Children's
• Community Outreach at Cook Children's

A child dies from heatstroke about once every 10 days from being unattended in a hot vehicle. Heastroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle fatality for kids 14 and younger. In more than half of these deaths, the caregiver forgot the child was in the car or the child climbed into an unlocked car to play and couldn't get themselves out. 

“What’s heartbreaking is that this is a serious public health issue that is 100 percent preventable,” said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s and Safe Kids Tarrant County Coordinator. “Every mom and dad out there must realize it can happen to you. Texas leads the nation in child heat-related car deaths.”

So if you saw a baby alone in a car, what would you do to help?

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a national online survey found that almost 2 out of every 5 parents said they had seen a young child left alone in a parked car in the last year. Some reported that they took action. Others reported they did nothing.

What should you do if you see a child in a hot car?

First and foremost, call 911.

“Each situation is unique. It’s best to call 911, describe the situation and take direction from them,” said Lonny Haschel, Staff Lieutenant with Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Highway Patrol.

In a situation where someone spots a child in a hot car, every second counts. The inside of a car can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes and keeps getting hotter with each passing minute. And cracking the window doesn’t help.

Heatstroke occurs when the body is no longer able to cool itself quickly enough. Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up to 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s. Children can’t cool their bodies fast enough to handle the heat and once the child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, he or she is at risk of death.

Over the weekend, two children died in Phoenix, Ariz. A 7 month old died when the temperature was 101 degrees. The following day a 1 year old died when it was 103 outside.

But it doesn't need to be over 100 degrees for the car to heat up quickly enough for deadly consequences. On July 27, 2017, a 4-month-old baby died in a hot car in Laramie, Wyo. and it was 84 degrees outside.

“It truly doesn’t have to be a ‘hot’ day in Texas for a death to occur,” Walraven said. “The temperature inside a vehicle can quickly climb over 20 degrees hotter than outdoor temperature. So even a cool day in Texas can become dangerous very quickly. Since children’s body heat rises three to five times faster than adults, it’s important to know that temperatures can become deadly any time of year.

Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a child’s internal temperature gets to 104 degrees, major organs begin to shut down. And when that child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child can die.

Because of this, and because cars heat up so quickly – 19 degrees in 10 minutes – tragedies can happen faster than you think. Symptoms can quickly progress from flushed, dry skin and vomiting to seizures, organ failure and death.

Leaving a child alone in a hot car is not only extremely dangerous, but against the law. A person commits a criminal offense in Texas if he or she knowingly leaves a child in a motor vehicle for longer than 5 minutes knowing that the child is :

1. Younger than 7 years of age and;
2. Not attended by an individual in the vehicle who is 14 years of age or older.

A 3-year-old from Fort Worth died over the weekend after he climbed into a non-working vehicle

The Star-Telegram reported police believe the boy was in the car for 45 minutes before he was found. Temperatures reached 100 degrees in Tarrant County over the weekend.

According to the website noheatstrokedeath.org, playing in unattended cars is the second leading cause of heatstroke death of children left in vehicles.

Since 1998, a total of 714 children across the United States have died from heatstroke when unattended in a vehicle:

• 54 percent – child forgotten by caregiver
• 28 percent – child playing in unattended vehicle
• 17 percent – child intentionally left in vehicle by adult.

“This is a tragic death. Life happens and distractions are everywhere, but there are no do-overs in cases like this one,” said Dana Walraven Community Health Outreach Manager at Cook Children’s. “To prevent these tragedies, it’s up to the adults to start with safe habits: monitor your child’s play outside, keep the car locked at all times to prevent access. When you are driving in your car, keep a purse or cell phone in the back seat so you are always in the habit of going back there and can ensure it’s clear of kids. What makes these stories so sad is that they are preventable.”

From January 1 through June 24, 2017, a total of 14 children in the United States have died as a result of a heatstroke when in an unattended vehicle, including seven in Texas.

Noheatstroke.org advices:

“Always lock your car and ensure children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices. Teach children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.”

More Resources:

• Child Safety Center
• Vehicle/Car Safety
• Frequently Asked Questions About Hyperthermia
• Heatstroke Safety Tips
• Noheatstroke.org

According to noheatstroke.org, 32 children have died in the U.S. as a result of being left in a car. In all of 2015, 24 kids died.

On Sept. 21, 2016, a 7-month-old baby died in a hot car in Huntsville, Ala. The temperature was 94 degrees. The following day, a 4-month-old child died in Geronimo, Okla. The temperature at the time was 96 degrees.

As anyone who lives in a state like Texas can attest, summer-like temperatures can occur even in winter. But it doesn’t take a scorching hot day for a child to be in danger. Heatstroke deaths have been recorded in 11 months of the year in nearly all 50 states.

“It truly doesn’t have to be a ‘hot’ day in Texas for a death to occur,” said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s and Safe Kids Tarrant County coordinator. “The temperature inside a vehicle can quickly climb over 20 degrees hotter than outdoor temperature. So even a cool day in Texas can become dangerous very quickly. Since children’s body heat rises three to five times faster than adults, it’s important to know that temperatures can become deadly any time of year.

Heatstroke, also known as hyperthermia, is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children. It occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.

Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a child’s internal temperature gets to 104 degrees, major organs begin to shut down. And when that child’s temperature reaches 107 degrees, the child can die.

Because of this, and because cars heat up so quickly – 19 degrees in 10 minutes – tragedies can happen faster than you think. Symptoms can quickly progress from flushed, dry skin and vomiting to seizures, organ failure and death.

“We still have to get the word out that there’s never a safe time to leave your child in the car,” said Sharon Evans,Trauma/Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s, said. “We’ve seen children die in February. We hope people will take extra precaution in never leaving a child in the car.”

Safe Kids Worldwide says that heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle related deaths for children and that young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adults’.

It’s hard to imagine someone forgetting a child is in the car, but human error, and people make these mistakes during their busy day-to-day lifestyle. Safe Kids recommend the “ACT” method to prevent tragedy to your child or to a child you see left in a car:

• A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.
• C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
• T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

For more information

Cook Children's partners with the community to raise awareness and meet learning needs centered around injury prevention and child safety equipment. Read more about it here.

Last year, 24 kids died in the U.S. and from 1998 to present, 676 children have died.

“What’s heartbreaking is that this is a serious public health issue that is totally preventable,” said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s and Safe Kids Tarrant County Coordinator. “Every mom and dad out there must realize it can happen to you. Texas leads the nation in child heat-related car deaths.”

Parents may mistakenly think they can safely leave a child in a vehicle for a “quick” errand, but that’s simply not true. Temperatures inside the car can be 20 or more degrees hotter than the temperature outside, rising to dangerous levels in minutes. Unfortunately, it only takes a few minutes for tragedy to occur.

Safe Kids Worldwide says that heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children.

“Heat is much more dangerous to children than it is to adults,” Walraven said. “When left in a hot vehicle, a young child’s core body temperature may increase 3 to 5 times faster than that of an adult. This could cause permanent injury or death.”

Heatstroke, or hyperthermia, occurs when the body isn’t able to cool itself quickly enough and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels.

Safe Kids recommend the “ACT” method to prevent tragedy to your child or to a child you see left in a car:

• A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not in it so kids don’t get in on their own.
• C: Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car next to your child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your final destination. This is especially important if you’re not following your normal routine.
• T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

It’s difficult to think that as parents, we could “forget” our children, but it happens each year with no exception to socioeconomic or education level. Often times, a change in routine, a distraction along the way, or the event a child falls quietly asleep, unseen, in the back seat, allows for a parent/caregiver to “forget” and leave a child in the car.

Here are some important tips to help prevent unintentional injury to your child:

1. Dial 911 if you see an unattended child in a car. Sometimes, people don’t want to get involved or just assume the parents are on the way out. But as you read earlier, it doesn’t take long for a child to die in a hot car. If you see a child or children alone in a car without an adult, call 911 immediately.
2. Never leave your child alone in a vehicle, even for 1 minute. Windows left slightly open will not affect rising temperatures in the car.
3. Set safe habits: leave a cell phone, purse, briefcase, etc. in the back seat before driving, forcing you to always check the back seat and see a child is/is not back there.
4. Program your cell phone and/or computer to remind you to drop off your child each day.
5. Have a plan with your daycare provider to contact you within a few minutes of being late or absent. Let your daycare know that you want them to call you if you are late or you have not called in saying your child will not be in that day.
6. Teach children not to play in any vehicle.
7. Lock all car doors, even at home.
8. If a child goes missing, always check the cars and trunks.

Learn more by clicking here. Also, visit noheatstroke.org for the latest on heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles.

For more information

Every year children are rushed to the emergency room to be treated for car related injuries, many don't even involve traffic or another car. Some injuries occur without the car ever leaving the driveway. Click here for some of the top dangers to be aware of and the key things you can do to help make your car safer for your kids.

"If it can accelerate your body, it can injure you," said Corwin Warmink, M.D., medical director of the Emergency Department at Cook Children's. "Vehicular accidents, including boats, ATVs, cars, scooters and bikes are all too common on holiday weekends during the summer."

Another danger Dr. Warmink is concerned about this weekend: broken bones. No one wants to spend Labor Day weekend in the hospital. But Dr. Warmink says many families do, thanks to trampolines and monkey bars.

One of the scariest threats we see all too often is drowning. And yes, it can happen to you. In August alone, 14 children were admitted to Cook Children's Medical Center for drowning-related injuries. Two of those children died.

"We've seen many cases where children took their life preservers off and jumped back into the water," said Magdalena Santillan, Trauma Injury Prevention specialist at Cook Children’s. "Often, parents are getting ready to leave the pool and don't realize their kids have jumped back in."

One of the best ways to protect your child around the pool or lake is to become a Water Watcher. This means adults take turns supervising the water with undistracted attention. You can find more information about the program here, including 5 seldom used tips that could save a child's life.

And Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but that does not mean an end to the heat. According to Dr. Warmink, heat-related illness also tops the list of Labor Day dangers. "Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hot cars and sunburns are among the common injuries we see over the Labor Day weekend," said Dr. Warmink. "Parents should make sure their kids drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen, and of course, never leave a child alone in a car."

With your help, we can cut the number of Emergency Department admissions this holiday weekend and ensure a safe celebration for everyone.