Child hot car deaths and injuries are largely misunderstood by the general public and the majority of parents believe this would never happen to them.
Tragically, a 1-month-old boy died after being left inside a vehicle in Peoria, Illinois on Monday (9/16/24). This is at least the 34th child to die in a hot car nationwide this year.
At least 1,118 children have died in hot cars nationwide since 1990 and at least another 7,500 survived with varying types and severities of injuries, according to data collected by Kids and Car Safety. Approximately 88% of children who die in hot cars are age 3 or younger and the majority (55%) were unknowingly left by an otherwise loving, responsible parent or caregiver.
Safety Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Create simple habits to help keep your child safe.
- Make sure your child is never left alone in a car:
- Place the child’s diaper bag or item in the front passenger seat as a visual cue that the child is with you.
- Make it a habit of opening the back door every time you park to ensure no one is left behind. To enforce this habit, place an item that you can’t start your day without in the back seat (employee badge, laptop, phone, handbag, etc.)
- Ask your childcare provider to call you right away if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled.
- Clearly announce and confirm who is getting each child out of the vehicle. Miscommunication can lead to thinking someone else removed the child.
Technology exists that can prevent these unthinkable tragedies. A provision was passed in November 2021 as a part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a regulation by November, 2023 for technology in all new cars to help prevent hot car deaths. The final rule is now nearly a year overdue from the Congressionally mandated deadline.
At an event in June, Kids and Car Safety, grieving families and safety advocates constructed a striking visual display featuring over 1,080 infant onesies symbolizing the number of children’s lives lost in hot cars since 1990. The group gathered across the street from the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters building in Washington, DC. The chilling demonstration underscores the urgent need for swift action from the NHTSA on this overdue regulation. (read press release)
“We are committed to the push for occupant detection technology in all cars immediately. As we continue our advocacy, children continue to die week after week. It is beyond heartbreaking," stated Janette Fennell, founder and president of Kids and Car Safety, the leading national nonprofit working solely to prevent injuries and deaths of children in and around motor vehicles. "Automakers do not have to wait for the final regulation to be issued requiring technology; they can add occupant detection technology to their vehicles today. An occupant detection and alert system could have assisted these sweet angels before it was too late,” she continued.