Look Before You Lock!

One of the biggest weather related risks during the summer months is the possibility of a child dying in a vehicle from heat stroke. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes, and 50 degrees in an hour- even when outside air temperatures are in the 70's! The inside of a car acts like a greenhouse, where actual temperatures inside the vehicle can reach 120°F in minutes and approach 150°F in as little as an hour! This can cause hyperthermia (heat stroke) in only minutes, particularly in children, whose body temperatures warm at a rate three to five times faster than an adult. Studies have shown that "cracking the windows" provides little (if any) relief.

The animation below shows an experiment we performed here at the Louisville NWS office. The thermometer was placed inside a van on a partly cloudy day with temperatures in the 90s.

From 1998 to 2016 there were 700 fatalities nationwide resulting from being left in a hot car. Half of these were children that were forgotten by a parent or other caregiver, and nearly 20 percent died when parents knowingly left their child in a vehicle. The rest died playing in an unattended vehicle.

All of these tragic deaths are preventable! To help bring awareness to this issue, the National Weather Service is using the slogan "Look Before You Lock" to remind people to remember to check for small children in a car seat and to never leave children unattended in a vehicle- even for a few moments. Remember that pets should also never be left in a vehicle during the summer months.

The following are basic safety recommendations:

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. Not even for a minute!
If you see a child unattended in a hot vehicle, call 911 immediately!
If a child is missing, always check the pool first, and then the car, including the trunk.
Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don't overlook sleeping babies.
Always lock your car and ensure children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices.
Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is put in the seat, place the animal in the front with the driver.
Or, place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
Make "look before you leave" a routine whenever you get out of the car.
Ensure your child's school and/or child care provider will call you if your child does not show up for school.

If you have any questions about "Look Before You Lock", please contact Joe Sullivan, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Louisville.

Much of the information on this page is based on research by Mr. Jan Null, Certified Consulting Meteorologist, Adjunct Professor of Meteorology at San Francisco State University, CA, and a 34 year veteran with the National Weather Service. You can find his research and information - including the latest statistics - at Golden Gate Weather Services.

More information on the dangers of heat can also be found at the National Weather Service Heat Safety webpage.