Stop. Look. Lock.

Emily Fay

August 10, 2026

When temperatures outside rise, so does the risk of heatstroke or death for anyone left in a locked car. This is especially dangerous for children and pets who cannot get out of vehicles without help. In 2025, according to the NHTSA, 31 children died of heatstroke in vehicles. This summer, before you get out and walk away from your car, remember: Stop. Look. Lock.

The NHTSA shares how everyone can help prevent hot car deaths.

Parents and Caregivers

1. Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. Rolling the windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the vehicle’s interior temperature. The vehicle will still heat to unsafe temperatures.
2. Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle – especially the back seat – before locking the doors and walking away. Did you know that over 50% of pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths are a result of a parent or caregiver forgetting a child in a car?
3. Ask your childcare provider (daycare, babysitter, family member, etc.) to call if your child doesn’t show up for care as expected.
4. Put a personal item that you need to take with you (like a purse or briefcase) in the back seat, as another reminder to look before you lock. Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger’s seat to remind you that a child is in the back seat.
5. Store car keys and fobs out of children’s reach, and teach children that a vehicle is not a toy or a play area.

Everyone – Including Bystanders

• Secure Your Car – Always lock your car if you aren’t using it. Even if you don’t have a child of your own, a neighbor’s child could wander by and get into your unlocked vehicle.
• Act Fast. Save a Life. – If you see a child alone in a locked car, act immediately and call 911. A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible!

Pet Heat Safety

It is never safe to leave an animal in a parked car alone! Cracking a window or parking in the shade doesn’t help; the car still gets dangerously hot. During hot weather, keep your pets at home! Check out more hot weather tips to keep your pets safe this summer.