How to stay safe in the summer heat

As summer temperatures continue to climb across the country, it is important to remember that hot summer days can lead to loss of life in a vehicle, which can reach deadly temperatures in a matter of minutes.

According to 2024 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 39 children died of heatstroke in vehicles last year, up 35% from 2023.

The United States saw a temporary decrease in pediatric vehicular heat strokes from hot cars during the pandemic, due to an increase in remote work and education. However, these cases are back on the rise. As caregivers shuttle kids between activities and vacation destinations this summer, the odds of heatstroke claiming the life of a Mid-South child could climb. Experts are urging parents to always make hot car safety a priority.

Here’s some helpful information and tips for parents about heatstroke prevention for kids.

Hard Facts about Heatstroke

• On average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle. In more than half of these deaths, the caregiver forgot the child was in the car.
• A car can heat up 19 degrees in just 10 minutes and can reach temperatures up to 50 degrees higher than the outside temperature.
• Young children are particularly at risk, as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s.
• Cracking a window doesn’t prevent heatstroke, and it can occur in cooler temperatures or without much sun exposure.

Top Tips for Preventing Heatstroke

Reduce the number of deaths from heatstroke by remembering to ACT.

1. Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car locked when you’re not inside so kids don’t get in on their own. 
2. Create reminders. Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase or purse in the backseat when traveling with your child. You can also ask your childcare provider (daycare, babysitter, etc.) to call to check-in if your child is absent, as a preventative measure.
3. Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations.

Other Heat-Related Risks

Children and teens are also at risk of developing exercise-related heat illness (ERHI), especially during summer conditioning for sports teams. In fact, children may be at greater risk than adults for developing heat illness.

Signs of Exercise-Related Heat Illness (ERHI)

Exercise-related heat illness, sometimes referred to as “heat injury”, can occur when exercise is done in a high temperature and high humidity environment. Because exercise can cause muscles to create 10 to 20 times more heat than resting muscles, it is important for adults to monitor children’s activity and look for signs of heat illness.

1. Heat fatigue – painful muscle contractions (most often in leg muscles, normal temperature
2. Heat exhaustion – body temperature up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit; fatigue; nausea; vomiting; dizziness; flushed, moist skin
3. Heat stroke – life-threatening; body temperature more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, confusion, combativeness, seizures and/or stroke, shock, coma (unresponsive) and/or heart failure/cardiac arrest

Tips for Preventing Heat Illness

• Schedule activities during the coolest parts of the day, which are typically early morning or late afternoon/evening.
• Both temperature and humidity (known collectively as the “heat index”) should be considered to accurately assess risks. Consider cancelling or delaying an activity under extreme conditions.
• Make sure plenty of cold water and sports drinks are available before, during and after each activity.
• Schedule breaks every 10 to 15 minutes during any activity lasting more than 1 hour.
• Identify athletes at high risk, such as those who are obese, poorly conditioned, not acclimated to the weather, have an existing illness, are taking certain medications or have a history of heat-related issues.
• Know the signs and symptoms of ERHI.
• Plan for emergencies: measure body temperature, call 911 and cool immediately.