Texas Heatstroke Task Force

Thankfully the child was found and is okay. Creating systems and reminders so all children are accounted for on every trip is essential to preventing vehicular heatstroke.

5-year-old left in locked daycare van in Alvin, police say Police say a daycare driver miscounted her passengers, leaving a 5-year-old inside a locked van for 30 to 45 minutes.

Thanks to Buda Police Department for all your work to keeps kids safe and prevent heatstroke in cars.

Top Tips:

A - Avoid heatstroke by never leaving a child in a car and keep cars locked.
C - Create reminders so a child is not forgotten in the car. *Forgetting a child is the most common cause of vehicular heatstroke deaths.
T - Take action. Call 911 if you see a child alone in a car.

HAPPENING NOW

Join us today at the 9th Annual Hays County Office of Emergency Services Emergency Preparedness Fair.
We’re handing out emergency blankets, promoting vehicular heatstroke prevention, discussing vehicle emergency kits, and there’s tons of swag.

Come by and spin the wheel for a prize!

We’ll be here until 2:30pm at La Verde Park in Kyle.

Heatstroke display by the Texas Heatstroke Task Force.
Heatstroke and water safety materials from Safe Kids San Antonio.
Check out the new app from Project SafeRide.
Volunteers from Buda Police Foundation and Hays County CERT.

It may be September but Texans know that intense summer heat is still here. Everyday habits in the car can save lives. Look before you lock. Keep cars locked when parked. Make reminders so a child is never left behind.

Triple digit summer temperatures mean kids are at greater risk for heatstroke! As temperatures rise outside, we’re reminding parents and caregivers that the temperature inside a car is even hotter. When a car's internal temperature can rise by 19 degrees in just 10 minutes, it's important to double-check the back seat before leaving your vehicle. This year, there have been 23 hot car deaths with 5 occurring in August alone. Most parents and caregivers believe it could never happen to them, but in most cases, the child is left behind unknowingly.

Thanks for putting heatstroke prevention information in your June newsletter! We love seeing these safety tips being shared in cities across Texas.

Top safety tips:
*Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a short trip into a store.
*Make reminders to check the back seat.
*Call 911 if you see a child alone in a car.

https://coautilities.com/wps/wcm/connect/occ/coa/util/news/aun

Thank you to Dr. Monica Herrera and for sharing expert insight in The Dallas Morning News about child vehicular heatstroke.

Hot car deaths are completely preventable.

Simple everyday habits help keep children safe:

👀 Make a habit of checking the back seat before walking away from your car. Placing a essential item like a shoe, phone, or bag in the back row gives you a reminder.

🔑 Keep parked vehicles locked at home so children cannot climb inside unattended, and keep keys out of reach.

🚗 If a child is missing, check pools first, then check cars and trunks.

🚑 If you ever see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911 immediately.

For more resources and prevention materials, visit the Texas Heatstroke Task Force website at safety-connection.org/heatstroke/texas.

Read the news story (subscription may be required):
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/article/hot-car-deaths-texas-children-22325008.php

Spotted on the highway in Austin! We love seeing heatstroke prevention messages out in the wild.

Thank you to ReCon Services and NexWaste for using their space trucks to promote child safety.

Together, we can prevent heatstroke by never leaving a child alone in a car, making reminders so a child is not forgotten, and calling 911 if we see a child alone in a car.



NHTSA Texas Department of Transportation

Child heatstroke in hot cars isn't result of poor parenting—it’s most often a result of human memory error, often after a stressful morning, exhaustion, or a change in normal routine.

Protect your littlest passengers today by building simple habits:
☀️ Always take kids out of the car with you, even for short trips into a store.
🧸 Keep a visual cue (like a stuffed animal) in the front seat when a child is riding with you in the back.
📱 Place your phone or bag in the back seat so you must open the rear door.

🌡️ 94°F outside = 134°F inside. As dangerous heat continues across Texas, remember that shifting summer schedules and routine changes are when caregivers are most likely to forget their child in in the car and child vehicular heatstroke is most likely to happen.

Build simple habits today to protect your littlest passengers:

🔹 Avoid heatstroke by always taking kids out of the car with you and keeping cars locked so they can't climb in.

🔹 Create visual reminders (like a stuffed animal in the front seat as a reminder of a child in the back or your purse, phone, wallet in the back by the child).

🔹 Take Action — call 911 immediately if you see a child alone in a car.

Thank you to our partners at Texas DPS for sharing this crucial reminder!

Access free resources at: safety-connection.org/heatstroke/texas

🔥 It may be 94°F outside… but inside a parked vehicle, temperatures can soar to 134°F or higher.

A parked car can become deadly in just minutes.

🚸 Never leave a child, pet, or vulnerable adult unattended in a vehicle.
🔑 Always check the back seat before locking your doors.
📞 If you see a child or pet in distress inside a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately.

Look Before You Lock. One moment can save a life. ☀️🚔