Texas residents know all too well the summer heat can extend beyond the summer months. In 2024, San Antonio had its hottest year on record, along with the hottest October since 1931.
No matter the time of year, extreme heat can be dangerous, especially to children because they are more susceptible to heat. One of the places kids are most vulnerable is in hot cars.
Heat Risks for Children
Dr. Mark Muir, the trauma medical director at University Health, said, “Kids are smaller and they have less surface area so they can’t get rid of heat as quickly. Adults, we sweat, we get rid of heat a lot faster. In kids, it just accumulates and skyrockets.”
In fact, heatstroke due to being left in a car is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children.
How Quickly Cars Heat Up
“When the sun is out, even on cloudy days, the inside of the car can become much hotter than the temperature outside,” said Jennifer Northway, director of Injury Prevention at University Health. “Even on an 80-degree day, the inside of a closed car can quickly exceed 100 degrees. Cracking a window does not help keep the inside of a car cool.”
This means leaving a child in alone in a hot car, even for a few minutes, can put them in immense danger.
Dr. Muir says that kids left in hot cars “can become severely dehydrated and their kidneys can start to shut down. But what’s even more concerning is that it can actually cause brain damage.”
Ways to Prevent Hot Car Deaths
Hot car deaths are 100% preventable. All of us can help reduce the number of deaths by remembering to ACT:
Avoid – Never leave a child alone in a car.
Create reminders – Place something of the child’s on the front seat to remind you to check the back (i.e. blanket, stuffed animal, diaper bag).
Take action – Call 911 immediately if you see a child alone in a car.
“Set your purse, your briefcase, your cell phone, your backpack, something by the child in the backseat so you won’t forget when you get out,” Dr. Muir said.
Injury Prevention at University Health
Injury Prevention at University Health educates the public about how to prevent injuries and death in your community. You can learn more about heatstroke prevention on our website.
You can also find resources through SafeKids San Antonio. We lead this coalition with the purpose of keeping kids in the community safe, healthy and injury-free.
