The first heat wave of summer is expected to end by June 24, but meteorologists predict Wisconsin will see more record-breaking heat as the season continues.
With more hot weather on the way, it’s important to know temperatures inside your vehicle can quickly become dangerous.
Thirty-nine children nationwide died from heatstroke in vehicles in 2024, up from 29 in 2023, according to the National Safety Council. Since 1998, Wisconsin has had nine child heatstroke deaths in vehicles.
Over half of child heatstroke deaths happen as a result of a parent or caregiver forgetting a child in the car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Here’s what to know as Wisconsin heats up for the summer to keep you and your family safe:
Never leave children or pets in your car unattended
It’s never OK to leave a child or pet in a hot car – and cracking a window doesn’t make a difference, the American Veterinary Medical Association says.
Over the past 25 years, more than 1,000 children have died of heatstroke after being left inside a hot vehicle. In 2018 and 2019, there were a record number of hot car deaths, with 53 children dying each year, the most in at least 25 years, according to NoHeatStroke.org.
How to prevent hot car deaths in Wisconsin:
The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends taking the following steps to prevent child hot car deaths:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Scorching hot temperatures put your kids at risk of heatstroke in cars. How to keep them safe
Reporting by Alex Groth and Cailey Gleeson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
