Since last Tuesday, at least 4 children have died inside hot cars nationwide. With families continuing to return to the workplace and routines shifting with the start of school, Kids and Car Safety is urgently calling for extra caution from families and swift action from the auto industry.
8/16/22: Child died in a hot car in Fort Smith, AR
8/14/22: A 6-month-old infant was left in a hot car in Calcasieu Parish, LA
8/12/22: A 3-year-old girl was found in a hot car and died in Carthage, MO
8/9/22: A 3-month-old infant was unknowingly left in a car in Washington, DC
Already this year at least 18 children have died in hot cars. Since 1990, over 1,000 children have died in hot cars and at least another 7,300 survived with varying types and severities of injuries, according to data collected by Kids and Car Safety.
The majority of hot car fatalities involve children who were unknowingly left by an otherwise loving, responsible parent or caregiver (56%). Additionally, about a fourth (26%) of children who die in hot cars got into the car on their own and became trapped, of which 68% were little boys. Eighty-seven (87%) percent of children who die in hot cars are age 3 or younger.
"It is unfathomable for families to continue burying children when occupant detection technology exists and is readily available to install in all new cars today. These precious children do not have to die in this preventable way," said Janette Fennell, president and founder of Kids and Car Safety.
