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.

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Texas surpassed its number of hot car deaths from 2024 on July 14, according to the Texas Department of Health Services (DSHS). A sixth and seventh fatality was reported in August in North Texas.

The increase contributes to the more than 20 hot car deaths reported nationwide this year as of August 26. Vehicular heatstroke is the second-leading cause of vehicle-related deaths in children under 15, trailing only car crashes.

Experts from Cook Children's Health Care System, Viviana Esparza, program coordinator at the Center for Community Health, and Sharon Evans, trauma injury prevention manager, emphasize the preventable nature of these tragedies.

“It can happen to anyone but it is 100% preventable,” Esparza said.

She notes that 52% of hot car child deaths occur when a child is forgotten. According to kidsandcars.org, parents 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 you least expect it.

“Parents need to realize this can happen to anyone,” Evans said. “They aren’t bad parents but they get distracted or there’s a change in their routine. Make it a habit to put something you need in the back seat with the child.”

Twenty-five percent of hot car child 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 says the third most common is knowingly leaving a child in a vehicle for a quick errand. DSHS emphasizes that a cracked window does not protect a child or pet from heatstroke.

“A car heats up about 20 degrees in 10 minutes and the temperature just keeps growing after that, often reaching 130-140 degrees in 30 minutes to an hour,” Evans said.

Esparza encourages families to remember the acronym A.C.T. to prevent heatstroke:

• 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, such as a bag, wallet, or cellphone, in the back of your car or next to your child. 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 to stay connected 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.