NSC Statement on Preventing Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke
Join NSC, NHTSA and other partners in a virtual press release and heatstroke roundtable July 1.
Join NSC, NHTSA and other partners in a virtual press release and heatstroke roundtable July 1.
Itasca, IL – As temperatures across the country continue to climb this summer and states begin to reopen, the National Safety Council is calling on Americans to educate themselves about the dangers of pediatric vehicular heatstroke and how to prevent it. This is not a traffic safety area in which the U.S. can call itself a leader; in 2018 and 2019, we set painful records for the number of children dying in hot vehicles. Already this year, at least six children in the U.S. have died from being in a hot vehicle.
On July 1, join NSC, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and fellow partners for a virtual press event and heatstroke roundtable beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. Stakeholders can also participate in a Tweetup from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. using the hashtags #HeatstrokeKills and #CheckForBaby.
Pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths occur when a caregiver forgets a child in a vehicle, the child gains access to a vehicle or someone knowingly leaves a child in a vehicle. Often when caregivers forget a child, they are outside of their regular routine, under stress or have experienced a lack of sleep, which is not uncommon for new parents. Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, more vehicles have been sitting idle, and already this year three children have died after gaining access to unlocked vehicles. But parents and caregivers can take simple steps to help eliminate these preventable deaths:
Bystanders can also play an important role in saving a life. If you see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911 and get help immediately.
In addition, employers have an important role to play in curbing this issue, as 25% of these deaths occur in workplace parking lots while the parent or caregiver is at work. Use the free NSC Children in Hot Cars training to understand how to mitigate the risks. Free monthly prevention newsletters on this topic are also now available.
In an era where we never forget our cell phones, we are too frequently forgetting our most precious passengers. By taking steps to prevent pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths, we can all help the U.S. avoid surpassing one of the saddest records in roadway safety history.
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for over 100 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace, roadway and impairment. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
There are no items in your cart