Hot Cars: Children & Pets
Every year, children in the U.S. die after being left in or getting into hot cars. Most were forgotten by a loving caregiver whose routine changed. A child’s body heats up three to five times faster than an adult’s, and a car can become deadly even on a mild day.
- Parents & caregivers
- Pet owners
- Home & family
Photo: parent checking the back seat before locking the car
How fast cars heat up
- A closed car can heat up about 20°F in just 10 minutes.
- Cracking the windows does almost nothing to slow it down.
- Deadly temperatures can happen on days in the 60s and 70s with sun.
How it happens
- Forgotten: most cases. A change in routine, stress or fatigue, and a quiet sleeping child in a rear-facing seat.
- Getting in: children climb into unlocked cars to play and can’t get out.
- Left on purpose: someone thinks “just a few minutes” is OK. It isn’t.
Look before you lock
- Always open the back door and check the back seat before walking away.
- Put something you need (your phone, bag, badge or a shoe) in the back seat next to the child.
- Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat; move it to the front seat when the child is in the seat as a reminder.
- Ask your child care provider to call you if your child doesn’t arrive as expected.
- Be extra careful when routines change: a different driver, a holiday, a new job or a stressful day.
- Use rear-seat reminder systems or apps if your car has them.
Keep kids out of parked cars
- Lock car doors and trunks, even in the driveway or garage.
- Keep keys and remotes out of children’s reach.
- If a child is missing, check cars and trunks right away.
Pets
Dogs can’t cool themselves well and suffer heatstroke quickly in parked cars. Leave pets at home on warm days rather than leaving them in the car. Some states and cities make it illegal to leave pets in hot vehicles. See Pets & Emergencies.
If you see a child or pet alone in a car
- Call 911 immediately.
- If the child seems hot, sick or unresponsive, follow the 911 dispatcher’s instructions. Many states have laws protecting people who break a window to rescue a child or pet in danger, with conditions.
- Once out, cool the child with water (not ice) and get medical help. See Heat Illness.
Standards & references
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