Heatstroke Deaths of
Children in Vehicles

1009 children have died in hot cars due to Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH) since 1998. All of these deaths could have been prevented.

Updated December 22, 2024

Pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths, 2024: 38 •

Total number of Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke deaths, 2023: 29 •

Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke deaths, 1998-present: 1009 •

Average number PVH deaths per year: 37 •

Pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths, 2024: 38 • Total number of Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke deaths, 2023: 29 • Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke deaths, 1998-present: 1009 • Average number PVH deaths per year: 37 •

PVH: By the Numbers

A deep dive into circumstances behind hot car child deaths.

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Monthly Statistics

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Statistics by State

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Circumstances

An examination of media reports about the 970 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths for a 26-year period (1998 through 2023) shows the following circumstances:

  • 52.1% - Forgotten by caregiver (505 children)

  • 24.4% - Gained Access on their own (237)

  • 20.8% - Knowingly left by caregiver (202)

  • 2.7% - Unknown (26) 

Ages

The children that have died from vehicular heatstroke in the United States (1998-2023) have ranged in age from 5 days to 14 years. More than half of the deaths (55%) are children under 2 years of age. Below are the percentage of total deaths and the number of deaths.

Temperature Data
Link to Info Date City Temperature Gender Age
38 11/7/2024 St. Petersburg, FL 85 Boy 1 yr
37 9/28/2024 Bakersfield, CA 86 Boy 20 mo
36 9/16/2024 Peoria, IL 88 Boy 1 mo
35 9/8/2024 Buckeye, AZ 104 Girl 3 yr
34 9/6/2024 Anaheim, CA 112 Girl 3 yr
33 9/5/2024 Norman, OK 87 Unk 2 yr
32 9/5/2024 Norman, OK 87 Unk 2 yr
31 8/25/2024 Bloomington, IL 92 Girl 13 mo
30 8/21/2024 Beeville, TX 102 Girl 9 mo
29 8/20/2024 Corpus Christi, TX 100 Girl 22 mo
28 8/19/2024 Greenville, MS 89 Boy 3 mo
27 8/18/2024 Folsom, CA 87 Boy 2 yr
26 8/17/2024 Cole County, MO 90 Girl 9 mo
25 8/13/2024 Jennings, LA 95 Girl 10 mo
24 8/13/2024 Lexington, MA 80 Boy 1 yr
23 8/13/2024 Vicksburg, MI 84 Boy 3 yr
22 8/12/2024 Collegedale, TN 87 Girl Infant
21 7/30/2024 Cordes Lake, AZ 99 Boy 6 mo
20 7/30/2024 Baton Rouge, LA 95 Boy 6 mo
19 7/24/2024 Milton, VT 83 Unk 18 mo
18 7/24/2024 Fitzgerald, GA 92 Boy 4 yr
17 7/17/2024 East Hanover, NJ 93 Girl 6 mo
16 7/16/2024 Monticello, NY 91 Boy 2 yr
15 7/15/2024 Lakewood, NJ 98 Girl 2 mo
14 7/14/2024 Fairfield, IL 91 Boy 1 yr
13 7/10/2024 Omaha, NE 88 Boy 5 yr
12 7/9/2024 Marana, AZ 111 Girl 2 yr
11 7/7/2024 Jacksonville, AR 93 Boy 2 yr
10 7/3/2024 Houston, TX 95 Girl 4 yr
9 7/2/2024 Marietta, GA 91 Boy 2 yr
8 6/26/2024 Charlotte, NC 99 Girl 8 yr
7 6/25/2024 Perry County, MS 98 Boy 3 yr
6 6/14/2024 Washington, DC 93 Boy 4 yr
5 6/7/2024 Indialantic, FL 93 Boy 3 yr
4 6/13/2024 Santee, CA 77 Girl 2 mo
3 5/22/2024 Morgantown, WV 85 Girl 3 mo
2 5/20/2024 Bradenton, FL 90 Girl 6 yr
1 5/3/2024 Columbia, SC 88 Girl 3 yr