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Child safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Hot Car Safety: How to Prevent Child Heatstroke
A child left in a vehicle can overheat quickly. Here are the facts and prevention tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
1,000+Children died in hot cars over the past 25 years (NHTSA)
31Child vehicle heatstroke deaths in 2025
3-5xHow much faster a child's body temperature rises than an adult's
50%+Of child hot-car deaths happen when a parent or caregiver forgets a child
The short answer
Never leave a child alone in a vehicle for any length of time, check the back seat every time before you lock, keep your car locked and keys out of reach, and if you see a child alone in a locked car, act immediately and call 911.
Know the facts
NHTSA says more than 1,000 children have died of heatstroke over the past 25 years because they were left or became trapped in a hot car. In 2025, 31 children died of heatstroke in vehicles. NHTSA notes that 53 children died in each of 2018 and 2019, the most in at least 25 years, according to NoHeatstroke.org.
Kids heat up faster
A child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's.
About 104 degrees
Heatstroke begins when core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees.
107 or above
Death occurs at a core body temperature of 107 or above.
How it happens
According to NHTSA, over 50% of pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths happen because a parent or caregiver forgot a child in the car. Over 230 children have died of vehicular heatstroke since 1998 after gaining access to a vehicle and becoming trapped.
Prevention tips for parents and caregivers
- Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. NHTSA says rolling the windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the temperature inside.
- Check the entire vehicle, especially the back seat, before you lock the doors and walk away.
- Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child doesn't show up as expected.
- Put a personal item, such as a purse or briefcase, in the back seat as a reminder to look before locking. A note or a stuffed animal on the passenger seat can remind you a child is in back.
- Keep car keys and fobs out of children's reach, and teach kids that a vehicle is not a play area.
NHTSA sums it up as Stop. Look. Lock.
What everyone can do
Always lock your car when you aren't using it. NHTSA points out that a child in your neighborhood could get into an unlocked vehicle even if you have no children of your own.
If you see a child alone in a locked car, act immediately and call 911. NHTSA says a child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.
Service at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Michigan City Ford is a new and used Ford dealership in Michigan City, IN, with its own service department.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | No Sunday hours listed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 10, 2026.
Hot car safety FAQ
How fast does a child overheat in a car?
NHTSA says a child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's. Heatstroke begins at a core temperature of about 104 degrees.
Does rolling the windows down or parking in the shade keep a car cool?
No. NHTSA says rolling the windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the temperature inside a vehicle.
How do most hot car deaths happen?
NHTSA says over 50% of pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths happen because a parent or caregiver forgot a child in the car.
What should I do if I see a child alone in a locked car?
Act immediately and call 911. NHTSA says a child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.
Why should I lock my car if I don't have kids?
Over 230 children have died of vehicular heatstroke since 1998 after gaining access to a vehicle and becoming trapped. NHTSA says a child in your neighborhood could get into an unlocked car.
More vehicle safety guides
See our Indiana seat belt law guide and how to check vehicle recalls.
Sources
Facts, statistics and prevention tips are from NHTSA's child heatstroke page, read November 10, 2026; NHTSA attributes the 2018-2019 record to NoHeatstroke.org. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- NHTSA: Prevent Hot Car Deaths (Child Heatstroke), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), read November 10, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026