Heatstroke
Every summer, the same tragedy repeats: kids and pets dying in hot cars. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more hot car deaths occur in July than any other month of the year. Even outside the heat of mid and late summer, however, the dangers of leaving people – especially children – and pets are very real. In 2024, 39 children died of heatstroke in vehicles, up 35% from last year. 
Last month, the Nebraska Humane Society (NHS) demonstrated the dangers by having volunteers sit in a parked car, turned off with the windows slightly open. A temperature gauge let onlookers watch the temperature climb. Even on an 80° F day, the temperature inside the car can reach 109° F within just 20 minutes. When human body temperatures reach 104° F, heatstroke symptoms including confusion, delirium, seizures, loss of consciousness, among others can begin. For children and pets with smaller body masses, reaching this threshold can occur up to three to five times faster than in an adult.
Common Myths
- “It’ll only take a minute” – On a 90° F day, something we’re not strangers to here in Nebraska, the car’s internal temperature can jump to 100° F in just 5 minutes.
- “I’ll crack a window” – The NHS demonstration mentioned above, plus continued research, has shown that while it might slow the heating of the car interior, it does not do so significantly. The car is still trapping heat through the greenhouse effect.
- “Leave the A/C running” – Still risky! Not only could systems fail or automatically turn off after a time, but a child might accidentally get hurt messing with things in the car. Additionally, there are often laws about running vehicles unattended, and it increases the risk of theft.
What Can I Do?
- The simplest answer: Don’t leave kids and pets alone in cars!
- Always lock your car to keep children from accidentally trapping themselves in a vehicle.
- While many newer cars have notifications for backseat occupants, if yours doesn’t, practice getting in the habit of always checking the backseat when they exit the vehicle. Some might leave their purse, wallet, or phone in the back, but there are plenty of ways to make it a habit.
- If you see children in a hot car, call 911! If you’re worried about immediate danger, Nebraska’s “Good Samaritan” law does provide protection to break into vehicles to rescue children in immediate danger.
