At least 7 children have died in a hot car in the U.S. this year. Why this happens, according to experts.

Seven children have died in hot cars across the U.S. so far this year. In March, a 4-month-old who was supposed to be dropped off at a babysitter's home in New Jersey was forgotten in a minivan for two hours. Just last week in North Carolina, a 7-month-old was also left inside a hot minivan. It's a preventable tragedy that makes dozens of headlines every spring and summer.
Nearly 40 children die in hot cars each year, according to data compiled by Kids and Car Safety, a national nonprofit that fights for child safety in and around vehicles. Since 1990, more than 1,000 kids have died from overheating in a car somewhere in the U.S.
In 2024, 39 kids died in hot cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), down from 2018 and 2019, when a record-breaking 53 children died in hot cars. Excluding car crashes, heatstroke is the leading cause of death in vehicles for children 14 and younger.
The majority of hot car deaths happen because the driver forgets the child is in the car, according to the NHTSA. The federal agency has found that 47% of these deaths happen when the caregiver has forgotten to drop those children off at day care or school, and it usually happens at the end of the workweek, on Thursdays or Fridays. The second leading cause is when unsupervised children get into unattended vehicles on their own.
'The majority of parents and caregivers are misinformed and would like to believe that they could never 'forget' their child in a vehicle,' Kids and Car Safety notes. 'The most dangerous mistake a parent or caregiver can make is to think leaving a child alone in a vehicle could never happen to them or their family.'
Children who get trapped in cars suffer from pediatric vehicular heatstroke, which happens when the child's body temperature rises because of the internal temperature of a car. For example, if the outside temperature is around 70°F, the inside of a car's temperature will increase to over 100°F within the first 30 minutes. A child's body will overheat three to five times faster than an adult's body, according to the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
More often than not, caregivers leave children in hot cars by accident, which is why they're usually not charged with murder, David Diamond, a psychology professor at the University of South Florida, told Yahoo News. Diamond has studied cases of children dying in hot cars for 20 years.
'These are not parents who don't care about their kids,' Diamond said. 'Everyone can relate to forgetting. It's something that we all do.'
Diamond says parents leave their kids in overheating cars because of habit and routine. The 'habit brain memory system' kicks in when people perform repetitive tasks almost automatically or without a second thought. Diamond has said that knowing how to ride a bike or tie shoelaces are examples of habit brain memory.
'You're driving home from work, and you've done it hundreds of times by yourself,' Diamond explained to Yahoo News. 'It's your brain's habit memory system that takes you from work to home without even having to think about it. You drive straight home.'
Even if parents feel confident that they will remember their child is in the back seat and needs to be dropped off somewhere before they get to the office, the habit brain memory system can overpower that new addition to a routine they've done hundreds of times without the child, Diamond said.
He emphasized this is not a 'syndrome' or rare mental disorder, but something most people experience because it's how the brain functions. It does not mean the parent or caregiver doesn't love their child.
''Forgetting' really is the right word,' he said of situations where parents leave their kids in hot cars. But 'forgetting' the child because of routine doesn't alleviate any severity or pain from the experience for those parents. 'It truly is a form of forgetting. And that's as simple as it is. It is a catastrophe."
Creating relevant safety laws is crucial to helping parents protect their children in these situations, Amber Rollins, director of Kids and Car Safety, told Yahoo News.
Rollins cited data dating back to 1990 that shows children died less frequently from airbags while sitting in the front seat of a car after states made it illegal for kids under 13 to ride in the passenger seat. (It also wasn't required in all states for kids to ride in car seats until 1985.) But as more children were placed in the back seats of cars to avoid airbag deaths, kids were instead dying of heatstroke because they were forgotten in the car.
This is why groups like Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Safe Kids Worldwide, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and Kids and Car Safety are advocating for it to be mandatory for car manufacturers to build in radar systems that help notify parents if their kids are still sitting in the back seat. Part of the argument for why radar should be built into the cars — instead of tools parents can order online and install themselves— is, as Diamond told Yahoo News, because most people do not believe they would ever forget their child in the back seat of the car and wouldn't buy it.
'The best kind of solution available right now is radar detection,' Rollins said. 'It's a little chip that goes into the headliner or the roof of the vehicle, and it detects micro-movements. … it can tell the difference between an adult and a child based on micro-movements … and so, effectively, it can tell, 'Hey, there's a kid in here and I don't see a grown-up; we've got a problem.''
Kids and Car Safety coordinated with NHTSA on the federal Hot Cars Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives in 2021. The act then evolved into a provision under the Child Safety section in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law in November 2021. The provision requires that the Secretary of Transportation 'issue a rule that requires all new passenger motor vehicles to be equipped with a child safety alert system.'
But, according to Rollins, the NHTSA has not made enough effort to put this rule into effect across all car manufacturers. Some manufacturers do have 'Rear Occupant Alert' systems in place for certain vehicle productions — it's in multiple Hyundai and Kia vehicles — but Rollins thinks the NHTSA should do more.
A spokesperson for the NHTSA told Yahoo News that the organization is still conducting studies to ensure that the radar devices currently available are actually effective. A concern is that if the technology is faulty and alerts parents over every small thing in the back of their car, parents might feel inclined to turn it off, Rollins said. The technology needs to exclusively flag if children are unattended in the back of a car. Rollins argued that there are existing detection devices that have passed multiple tests and should be installed.
'The agency will continue to test additional systems as they become available to the public,' the NHTSA spokesperson said.
It's common for parents to believe they would never forget their children in the back seat of their car. Here are some tips from Sanford Health on how to ensure you remember your child is in the back.
Put something in the back seat of your car with your child that you need before leaving the vehicle, like a cell phone, one of your shoes or an employee badge — something you need when you arrive at your destination.
Keep a stuffed animal in your child's car seat and move it to the front of the car while driving your child as a reminder that they are in the car with you.
Ask your babysitter or child care provider to give you a call if your child is expected to show up somewhere but hasn't arrived.
Always check that your car is locked and inspect it before leaving the premises — even if you're in a rush. This can help you double-check nobody is in the back seat and addresses the second cause of children dying in hot cars, which is when they climb in unattended and unsupervised.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

19 minutes ago

• Yahoo

With rising temperatures in North Carolina, hospitals report uptick of snake bites

CARY, N.C. (WNCN) — Hospitals throughout the central North Carolina said they're seeing more patients with snake bites walking through their doors. Raleigh native Anita McLoud went through the whole experience when she was bitten by a copperhead in her backyard. She never imagined she'd find herself calling 911 in the hospital, and with a venomous bite. After checking on her chickens during a night in August, McLoud said she turned around to walk back to her house when she had a startling surprise. 'One of the first two things I remember learning from my mom is how to identify a copperhead and how to identify poison ivy,' McLoud said. 'Those were the things you needed to know going out of the house. 'I was in my backyard,' she said. 'I had not seen a snake there in 23 years that I lived there and I was wearing flip flops.' 'My first thought was it's a stick. Within a split second, I [realized] that was not a stick. Was it a snake? I turned and there he was.' According to McLoud, medical staff measured the swelling near the bite every 30 minutes. While she never needed antivenom, doctors gave her morphine for the pain. She said the swelling, pain, and discoloration lasted around five-six weeks. 'I was fortunate that way,' McLoud said. 'They told me at the time, only 23% of people who got bit had to receive the antivenom.' According to Duke Health officials, hospitals usually see more than 100 snakebite patients per year across the health system, with the number of cases typically peaking in July. Since April, officials said emergency departments at Duke University, Duke Regional Hospital and Raleigh Regional Hospital have treated 22 bites this season, which staff said typically starts in April. Officials at WakeMed said an emergency department reported nine patients since June 1, six just between June 14 and June 17. Last year, they saw an increase from 15 patients treated for bites in June to 40 in July. UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill reported 18 patients from March to mid-June, slightly higher than the same time last year. 'The numbers increase as the weather gets warmer, especially when it's hot and more of us work/play in the yard early in the morning or in the evening—when snakes get more active, too,' staff said in a statement. Talena Chavis of Cary, the owner of NC Snake Catcher has studied snakes for nearly 30 years. She said the summer season typically comes with 8-10 calls a day, often to safely move and relocate snakes. 'I actually don't encourage folks to try to ID snakes themselves because Mother Nature throws curveballs,' Chavis said. 'Even with copperheads, the pattern changes a lot.' North Carolina has six venomous snakes. According to Chavis, the copperhead's bite is rarely fatal. 'Every season, copperheads are our number one snake,' Chavis said. 'To say that we have a surplus or even an overpopulation is not is not off topic.' Chavis believes more encounters have been attributed to more growth and development. The species has also adapted to urban and suburban areas. 'They're not really afraid of loud noises,' she said. 'They don't care about fireworks, blowers, lawnmowers. These guys just don't really care because they're an ambush predator.' According to Chavis, most bites happen during night hours when copperheads are searching for heat and their prey. Most the time, she said people just happen to get in the way. Chavis advises people to be more cautious, aware, and put on boots. 'I firmly believe if people wore their boots in the yard and watched where they put their hands, the number of copperhead bites would be cut in half,' she said. Even after her encounter, McLoud said she now works with the reptiles. 'I've really been enjoying it,' McLoud said. 'I wasn't upset with the snake. He's just doing his 'self-defense' thing. If someone stepped on me, I'd probably react as well.' Duke Health officials also continue to share more information about snakebite safety. If bitten, they said to go to your local hospital—never push off the visit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Yahoo

32 minutes ago

• Yahoo

We Asked RDs Their Favorite Chipotle Order—They All Said the Same Thing

Reviewed by Dietitian Kelly Plowe, M.S., RDChipotle can be a healthier fast-food option because you can customize your order. Dietitians agree it's what you fill your salad, burrito, bowl or taco with that counts. Experts suggest topping your order with lean proteins, whole grains, veggies and healthy you're a Chipotle lover, you're in good company. The chain keeps growing, with a 13% increase in revenue in 2024, totaling $2.8 billion. So, why all the love? 'Build-your-own restaurants like Chipotle are ideal places to get a meal to-go but on your terms,' says Heidi McIndoo, M.S., RD. Dietitians are fans, too. We asked several nutrition experts about their go-to order, and you may be surprised to learn that RDs enjoy burritos, burrito bowls and salads equally. One thing they all agree on, when it comes to placing your Chipotle order, is finding a nutritional balance with the add-ins used to fill your burrito, bowl, salad or taco. Chipotle has plenty of options when it comes to lean proteins, whole grains, veggies and healthy fats. Many people struggle to incorporate veggies when they order takeout, but this doesn't have to be the case at Chipotle. 'Chipotle's range of fresh vegetables makes it easy to build a phytonutrient-rich meal,' says Romy Nathan, M.P.H., RDN. 'Add as many veggies as you like—salad greens, fajita veggies, various salsas,' suggests Lisa Andrews, RD, LD. This adds fiber, vitamins and minerals, and helps you to feel full and meet your daily vegetable needs—something 90% of Americans don't do. Chipotle offers many options to get in whole grains. Brown rice and corn salsa are the most popular amongst the RDs we interviewed. 'To top it off, I like the roasted corn salsa—it's not too hot, and corn is so full of fiber,' says McIndoo. If your go-to order is tacos, you can opt for corn tortillas for whole grains. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends making at least half of your grains whole grains because they're richer in fiber and certain minerals than refined grains. If you prefer white rice, don't sweat it. Just be sure to incorporate plenty of whole grains in the rest of your meals and snacks, like oats, corn and whole-wheat bread. Dietary fats help your body absorb vitamins A, D, E and K. To meet your daily fat needs, it's best to prioritize heart-healthy fats. 'If you're an avocado fan, the guac will give you a nice dose of healthy fats,' says McIndoo. A study found that eating two or more servings of avocado per week was linked with a 16% lower risk of cardiovascular disease. So don't shy away from topping your order with guacamole. This is a healthier option than sour cream or queso. Lean proteins are low in fat, especially saturated fat. They're best for managing heart health, since saturated fat can raise 'bad' LDL cholesterol. 'Chicken or beans will be lower in fat than beef or pork,' says Andrews. You can also try the sofritas—a flavorful protein pick made from tofu. According to Chipotle's website, one serving of beans or sofritas has 8 grams of protein. Adding beans not only adds more protein, but it also adds fiber. 'Black beans give me both protein and fiber, which helps fill me up and keep me feeling fuller longer,' says McIndoo. If you want a higher-protein option that's still lower in fat, RDs suggest chicken. 'My burrito bowl is filled with the new honey chicken—a great source of lean protein,' says McIndoo. Note that carnitas are the highest-fat protein option at Chipotle, with 12 grams of total fat per serving. If you're trying to be mindful of your cholesterol levels or dietary fat intake, stick to other proteins. Save half for later. Whether you enjoy a burrito bowl or a regular burrito, RDs suggest saving half to eat for later. Some days you may be hungrier than others, but for many people, half of an order is enough to meet their nutritional needs. 'I usually go for the bowl, because it's easier to save half for another meal, which is a great way to get your fave restaurant meals while not going overboard with portions,' says McIndoo. Ask for sour cream or queso on the side. These items can be high in saturated fat, which raises LDL cholesterol. So if you're trying to be mindful of your saturated fat intake but you still want to enjoy these additions, consider getting them on the side. 'The serving spoons can be generous, and this gives you more control over how much you eat,' says Nathan. When it comes to fast food, Chipotle has some of the most nutritious options out there. Dietitians enjoy everything from salads to bowls to burritos. What's most important is what you add to your order. RDs recommend centering your meal around beans, fajita veggies, salsas, corn, chicken or sofritas, guacamole and salad greens for a good balance of fiber, lean protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients. This helps fill you up and supports your overall health. Read the original article on EATINGWELL

Yahoo

38 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Retail Traders Just Sent This AI Health Stock Soaring 60%

Oscar Health (NYSE:OSCR) has exploded nearly 60% this week, adding close to $2 billion in market cap without a single press release or earnings update. The real catalyst? A retail trading frenzy. OSCR became one of the most-mentioned names on r/WallStreetBets, and trading volume followed suitnearly 50 million shares changed hands on Wednesday alone, the second-highest in the company's history. Options activity lit up as well, with call volumes hitting a record 152,414 that day, and another 95,000 contracts moving by Friday morning, nearly triple the norm. Beneath the surge is a company with serious revenue momentumup 48% in 2023 and 57% in 2024. Adjusted earnings per share reached $0.92 in Q1 2025. But Oscar isn't just selling insuranceit's selling a story. Management brands the company as a health-tech platform, powered by AI and run on what it calls a continuous hackathon model. That pitch, familiar to anyone who's followed high-multiple tech names, is likely helping Oscar catch a more generous valuation than traditional insurers. Retail traders appear to be buying into that promise. Another factor? The Kushner connection. Joshua Kushner, vice chairman of Oscar's board and brother to Jared Kushner, has remained a prominent name in business and politics alike. That visibility might be adding an extra layer of speculation to the mix. But for now, the stock's movement is being driven more by momentum than fundamentals. Oscar is just $3 shy of its all-time highand the retail crowd seems determined to carry it the rest of the way. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.