Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke: Preventing Child Heat-Related Deaths
Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke: Preventing Child Heat-Related Deaths
Pediatric vehicular heatstroke can happen quickly and can result in serious injury or death. Children should never be left unattended in a vehicle, even for a short period of time, with the windows open, or when the vehicle is parked in the shade. For foster and adoptive caregivers, prevention starts with consistent routines and intentional supervision.
Never Leave a Child Alone
Pediatric vehicular heatstroke can happen quickly and can result in serious injury or death. Children should never be left unattended in a vehicle, even for a short period of time, with the windows open, or when the vehicle is parked in the shade.
For foster and adoptive caregivers, prevention starts with consistent routines, intentional supervision, and making vehicle safety part of everyday practice. These safety practices are important year-round. Extreme temperatures can make an unattended vehicle dangerous in both hot and cold weather.
Caregivers should:
- Take every child out of the vehicle when arriving at a destination.
- Never leave a child unattended while running an errand, picking up another child, or completing another quick task.
- When more than one caregiver is involved, clearly communicate who is responsible for each child.
- Confirm that every child has exited the vehicle before locking it and walking away.
Create a Vehicle-Exit Routine
Changes in routine, distractions, transporting multiple children, and unexpected schedule changes can increase the risk of a child being unintentionally left behind. A consistent vehicle-exit routine can help reduce this risk, especially when a caregiver is tired, distracted, or managing multiple responsibilities.
The goal is to create a routine that does not rely solely on memory.
- Check the back seat every time, even when you believe no child remains inside.
- Confirm that every child has exited the vehicle.
- When another adult is involved, clearly confirm who is responsible for each child.
- Never assume another caregiver has removed a child without confirming.
- Create a personal reminder that requires you to interact with the back seat. For example:
Place your purse, wallet, work bag, or another item you need in the back seat.
Place a child's lunch box, backpack, or another important belonging in the front seat so you must interact with the child before leaving.
Make it a routine to hand each child's backpack, lunch box, or other item to them after they exit the vehicle.
Prevent Children From Accessing Vehicles
Children can also enter an unattended vehicle on their own, particularly when a vehicle is parked in a driveway, garage, or other location close to the home. Young children may be curious and may see a vehicle as a place to play, hide, or explore without understanding the danger. Once inside, a child may be unable to open the doors or escape the increasing temperatures.
Keep vehicles locked whenever they are not in use, including when parked at home.
Keep keys and remote-start devices out of children's reach.
Teach children that vehicles are not places to play or hide or enter without an adult.
Follow the child's individualized safety plan and supervision requirements to help prevent children from going outside, entering the garage, or accessing vehicles without appropriate adult supervision.
Establish clear expectations about where children may go and when an adult must accompany them outside or into the garage.
If a child is missing, check the vehicle immediately.
Safety Starts With Consistency
Vehicle safety should be part of a family's everyday routine—not something considered only during the summer or on particularly hot days.
Extreme temperatures can be dangerous at any time of year, and children should never be left unattended in a vehicle regardless of the season.
For foster and adoptive families, changes in routine may occur frequently due to school, medical appointments, family visits, extracurricular activities, respite care, or changes in caregivers. These transitions are an opportunity to slow down and intentionally account for each child.
A simple verbal check can help:
“I have this child. You have that child. Everyone is accounted for.”
Consistent routines, clear communication, and intentional vehicle checks can help reduce the risk of pediatric vehicular heatstroke and keep children safer.
This post provides general educational information and does not replace Texas DFPS Minimum Standards, Families Especial policies and procedures, or individualized guidance.
Additional resources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Child Heatstroke Prevention; No Heat Stroke – Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention.
