As the weather warms, state officials urge people not to leave children in car even for a short time.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nationwide, 39 children who were left in vehicles died of heatstroke in 2024 up 35% from the prior year. N-H-T-S-A data indicates that temperatures do not have to be unseasonably high, and the time left in a car does not need to be very long to be dangerous. For example, studies show that an outside temperature in the mid-60s can cause a vehicle’s inside temperature to rise above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The Traffic Safety Administration reports that in just 10 minutes, that temperature can be enough to kill a child as their body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adults.