Stop-Look-Lock to prevent hot car deaths

Published on May 28, 2024

As the days are getting warmer, the Menlo Park Police Department wants to remind you that you should never leave your child or pet unattended in the car. In just 10 minutes, a car’s temperature can rise 20 degrees and become deadly to a child left in a car. Parking in the shade or cracking the windows does very little to prevent the interior temperature of the car from rising. With 80% of the total heat rise occurring in the first 30 minutes, even leaving them for one minute alone is not advised.

In 2023, 29 children died of heatstroke in vehicles. These deaths are preventable. If you are a parent or caregiver, always check the backseat before you lock up and leave. If you make this a habit, it will ensure that you do not forget when you have a child with you.

Do not hesitate to act if you witness a child in distress due to heat. If you see a child alone in a locked car, call 9-1-1 immediately.

For more information and resources go to the No Heat Stroke website and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's heatstroke prevention page.