A recent study has revealed the U.S. states with the highest rate of child heatstroke deaths in cars.
The study by the Parrish Law Firm looked at data from research company No Heat Stroke regarding child heatstroke deaths in cars from 1998 to July 19, 2024.
The data from the study, analyzed by KTLA sister station KFOR, focused on the number of hot car deaths in each state compared with the population aged 14 and under. States were then ranked from highest to lowest based on the number of deaths.
As you might have guessed, the highest-ranking states in the country were found mostly in the hotter southern part of the U.S., with Louisiana landing at No. 1.
Not far behind is Mississippi, followed by Oklahoma, then Arkansas. Here’s how the rest of the country finished on a per capita basis.
According to the Parrish Law Firm, Alaska, Vermont and New Hampshire are the only states with no recorded child heatstroke deaths in cars between 1998 and July 2024.
The data in the map (above) is per capita, but when looking at the total number of deaths, Texas finishes as the state with the most child deaths due to vehicular heatstroke with a total of 142 deaths since 1998. Florida is the only other state that even comes close with 110 deaths, followed by California at 56 total deaths.
“The southern states with typically hotter temperatures, especially during the summer, dominated the study, claiming seven of the 10 spots in the top ranking,” said Jim Parrish, Founder and Attorney at the Parrish Law Firm.
“As the temperatures heat up over the summer, parents and guardians are advised to exercise extreme caution to protect their children from heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. Children must not be left alone in a vehicle under any circumstances, even if the windows are left open, as the internal temperature can rise significantly in just 10 minutes.”
How to prevent hot car deaths
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 40 children a year die from heatstroke, either because they were left or trapped in a car.
To prevent this from ever happening, a great tip is to make a habit of always checking the back seat before you get out of the car and before you lock your doors.
Also making sure your car is always locked is another way to prevent heatstroke deaths. The second leading cause of child hot car deaths is a child getting into an unattended car.
Finally, if you see an unattended child in a car, attempt to find their parents if the child is alert and responsive. If they are not, call 911 immediately.