Dangers of Leaving Child in Hot Car

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CLEVELAND - With summer officially here, it’s important to remind parents about the danger hot cars pose to children.

Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, and kids are especially vulnerable to the heat.

“Children have a larger surface area compared to their mass. They also tend to dehydrate more quickly and have a higher metabolism, so they're making a lot of heat. Even for just a few minutes in a car, they’re going to heat up three to five times faster than an adult would,” explained Genon Wicina, MD, a pediatrician with Cleveland Clinic Children’s. 

About 37 children die from heatstroke each year because they were either left or got trapped inside a hot car.

And Dr. Wicinastresses there are steps parents can take to prevent this tragedy.

First and foremost, never leave them inside a car alone for any amount of time.

Equally important, Dr. Wicina said to lock your vehicle every time you get out, so there’s no chance of your little one climbing in when you’re not around.

You also want a way to remind yourself to get your child out of the car when they’re riding in the backseat.

“When you get in the car with a child, you should put something in the back seat to remind you that they’re there, like your phone or purse,” Dr. Wicina said. “Some people have also recommended putting a little stuffed animal in the front seat to remind you there is a child in the back.”

Dr. Wicina added it’s crucial to go over these safeguards with anyone who watches the child as well, like a babysitter or grandparent.