CHARLESTON – Vehicular heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children 14 and younger in the United States. The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urging parents and caregivers to learn and share critical information about the dangers of leaving children alone in hot vehicles. Please help spread the word: Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock.

Since 1998, vehicular heatstroke has killed more than 1,000 children. On average, one child dies from heatstroke every 10 days in the United States from being left in a vehicle or getting into an unlocked vehicle. While hot vehicle deaths can happen in any month, there is typically an increase from May through September.

Hot vehicles are deadly: Internal vehicle temperatures can quickly rise up to 50 degrees warmer than outside temperatures. Because a child’s body temperature increases 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s, even a cool day outside may still pose a threat to a child.

In 2025, 31 children died due to vehicular heatstroke, a decrease from the 39 children in 2024. On average, 37 children die each year as a result of vehicular heatstroke. Every hot vehicle death is preventable.

Toddlers and young children are more likely to climb into a vehicle and become trapped, unable to get out. Children “gaining access” to a vehicle account for nearly one-quarter of hot vehicle deaths. It is important for a parent or caregiver to teach children that the vehicle is not a playground and playing in and around one is dangerous.

“Parents and caregivers think this sort of tragedy could never happen to them,” said Jack McNeely, Director of the GHSP. “Sadly, ‘never’ does happen. Anyone can forget no matter who is taking care of the child, what their background is, or where they come from: Routines are often upended. It is during these moments of hurriedness and change in routine that many of these tragedies occur. Once You Park, Stop, Look, Lock.”

Parents and caregivers are urged to take three simple steps to help prevent hot vehicle deaths:

First, when getting out of a vehicle, make it a habit to check the entire vehicle, especially the back seat, EVERY time.

Second, NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended, even for one minute.

Third, ALWAYS lock the vehicle, and put the keys out of reach. 

For more information on vehicular heatstroke, visit NHTSA.gov/Heatstroke. For current data, visit noheatstroke.org.

For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, please visit highwaysafety.wv.gov.