Preventing Child Passenger Heatstroke

Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle fatalities for children 14 and younger according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Heat stroke occurs when the body temperature exceeds 104 degrees. A body temperature of 107 degree is considered fatal. Children are at a higher risk than adults of dying from heatstroke in a hot vehicle due to children overheating 3 to 5 times faster than adults. A factor which increases the risk is when they are too young to communicate.