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[Note: This study has now been published in Pediatrics. Click here to download]
- Total number of U.S. heatstroke deaths of children left in cars, 2017 18
- Total number of U.S. heatstroke deaths of children left in cars, 2016: 39
- Total number of U.S. heatstroke deaths of children left in cars, 1998-present: 718
- Average number of U.S. child heatstroke fatalities per year since 1998: 37
See Monthly Statistics
See Statistics by State
See
Trends and Patterns in Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke
(1998-2016)
CIRCUMSTANCES
An examination of media reports about the 700 child vehicular heatstroke deaths for a 19-year period (1998 through October 2016) shows the following circumstances:
- 54% - child "forgotten" by caregiver (376 Children)
- 28% - child playing in unattended vehicle (198)
- 17% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult (120)
- 1% - circumstances unknown (6)
Demographics of Persons Responsible for Heatstroke Deaths of Children Forgotten in Vehicles
AGES
The children that have died from vehicular heatstroke in the United States (1998-October 2016) have ranged in age from 5 days to 14 years. More than half of the deaths are children under 2 years of age. Below are the percentage of total (695) deaths (and the number of deaths).
- < 1-year old = 32% (225)
- 1-year old = 22% (154)
- 2-years old = 20% (136)
- 3-years old = 13% (92)
- 4-years old = 6% (42)
- 5-years old = 3% (23)
- 6-years old = 1% (9)
- 7-years old = < 1% (3)
- 8-years old = < 1% (3)
- 9-years old = < 1% (2)
- 10-years old = < 1% (3)
- 11-years old = < 1% (2)
- 12-years old = < 1% (1)
- 13-years old = < 1% (1)
- 14-years old = < 1% (3)
- Unknown = < 1% (1)
| # | Date | City | Temp | Name | Age |
| 18 | 7/2/2017 | Mary Ester, FL | 89° | Timothy Christopher McCoy | 7 wks |
| 17 | 7/1/2017 | Mooresville, NC | 90° | Girl | 3 yr |
| 16 | 6/24/2017 | St. George, UT | 105° | Abraham Royal | 2 yr |
| 15 | 6/23/2017 | Twin Falls, ID | 85° | Natalie Ross | 10 mo |
| 14 | 6/23/2017 | Ft. Worth, TX | 101° | Keandre Goodman | 3 yr |
| 13 | 6/23/2017 | Houston, TX | 96° | Justin Huynh | 7 mo |
| 12 | 6/12/2017 | West Memphis, AR | 88° | Christopher Gardner | 6 yr |
| 11 | 6/7/2017 | Kerrville, TX | 87° | Addson Overgard-Eddy | 2 yr |
| 10 | 6/7/2017 | Kerrville, TX | 87° | Brynn Hawkins | 1 yr |
| 9 | 5/26/2017 | Weatherford, TX | 96° | Juliet Ramirez | 1 yr |
| 8 | 5/26/2017 | Weatherford, TX | 96° | Cavanaugh Ramirez | 2 yr |
| 7 | 5/20/2017 | Caldwell, ID | 75° | Kyrae Vineyard | 5 mo |
| 6 | 4/14/2017 | Burleson, TX | 82° | Kingston Jackson | 23 mo |
| 5 | 4/7/2017 | Vestavia, AL | 68° | Christian Evan Sanders | 1 yr |
| 4 | 4/05/2017 | Pt. Pleasant, WV | 84° | Abel Stephens | 19 mo |
| 3 | 3/28/2017 | Ville Platte, LA | 92° | Addyson Bertrand | 3 yr |
| 2 | 2/28/2017 | Brandon, FL | 90° | Jacob Manchego | 2 yr |
| 1 | 2/06/2017 | Pinecrest, FL | 82° | Samuel Schnall | 1 yr |
