California Office of Traffic Safety and Caltrans urge caregivers and parents to prevent risk of leaving children in hot cars
July marked California’s hottest month on record, bringing significant heat risks to sensitive population groups like children and older adults. The average temperature reached 81.7 degrees, nearly two degrees higher than the previous record set in July 2021, according to Thursday’s data from the National Centers for Environmental Information. August is experiencing similarly high temperatures.
With August temperatures predicted to continue to trend hotter than normal, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and Caltrans are calling attention to the deadly risks of leaving children and pets unattended in hot vehicles and aim to bolster preventative measures within our communities.
Heatstroke remains a leading cause of non-crash-related auto deaths for children 14 and younger, with the interior of a car capable of reaching lethal temperatures rapidly, even on days as low as 60 degrees. The OTS and Caltrans encourage parents and caregivers to remind their children that cars are not playgrounds. The act of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle for any length of time can lead to tragedy and irreversible consequences.
Young children don’t sweat as effectively as adults, which is crucial for regulating body temperature. Their body temperatures increase much more quickly than adults. Keep an eye out for heat rash or sunburn as early indicators of heat illness and seek immediate help if other symptoms develop. Signs of heatstroke include a body temperature above 103 degrees, a rapid pulse, nausea, confusion, dizziness, headache, hot, red, dry, or damp skin, along with unusual or irritable behavior.
The OTS and Caltrans urge parents and caregivers to avoid vehicular heatstroke by adopting simple habits such as:
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