• Total number of U.S. pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths, 2023: 28
  • Total number of U.S. pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths, 2022:  33
  • Total number of U.S. pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths, 1998-present: 968
  • Average number of U.S. child heatstroke fatalities per year 1998-2023: 37

QUICK LINKS
- Infographic:   jpg  pdf
- Fact Sheet:   jpg  pdf
- Original study published in Pediatrics.
- Monthly Statistics 
-
Statistics by State 
- New - Updated through 2022:  
Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke: By the Numbers  (also PDF)
- NSC "Children in Hot Cars" Online Course

CIRCUMSTANCES

An examination of media reports about the 968 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths for a 26-year period (1998 through 2023) shows the following circumstances:
    - 52.17% - Forgotten by caregiver (505 children)
    - 24.48% - Gained Access on their own (237)
    - 20.66% - Knowingly left by caregiver (200)
    - 2.69% - 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.

< 1 31%  (297) 3  14%  (139) 6   1%  (9)   <1%  (2) 12   <1%  (1)
  1   24%  (228) 4   6%  (56) 7   <1%  (3) 10   <1%  (3) 13   <1%  (3)
  2   19%  (184) 5   3%  (31) 8   <1%  (3) 11   <1%  (4) 14   <1%  (3)

Click on location on map or table below for details

# Date City Temperature Gender Age
28 10/10/2023 Newton County, GA 83 Girl 14 mo
27 10/4/2023 West Hempfield Township, PA 83 Girl 3 mo
26 9/12/2023 York County, VA 88 Girl 11 mo
25 9/5/2023 Jacksonville Beach, FL 73 Girl 2 yr
24 8/29/2023 Jacksonville, NC 91 Boy 14 mo
23 8/25/2023 Daniel island, SC 92 Girl 16 mo
22 8/23/2023 Yankton, SD 100 Girl 1 yr
21 8/21/2023 Omaha, NE 97 Girl 1 yr
20 8/16/2023 Williston, OH 80 Girl 4 mo
19 8/8/2023 Houston, TX 102 Boy 2 mo
18 8/3/2023 Collinsville, IL 84 Boy 3 yr
17 7/31/2023 Smithtown, NY 84 Girl 14 mo
16 7/23/2023 Chattanooga, TN 90 Girl 11 mo
15 7/19/2023 Macclenny, FL 95 Girl 10 mo
14 7/14/2023 Richmond, TX 98 Boy 6 yr
13 7/9/2023 Rathdrum, ID 97 Boy 2 yr
12 7/5/2023 Lakeland, FL 93 Girl 18 mo
11 6/14/2023 Hernando, MS 85 Girl 22 mo
10 6/8/2023 Orange City, FL 91 Girl 2 yr
9 5/28/2023 Palm Bay, FL 85 Girl 11 mo
8 5/26/2023 Houston, TX 88 Boy 4 yr
7 5/24/2023 Puyallup, WA 77 Unk 1 yr
6 5/16/2023 Prosperity, FL 92 Girl 2 yr
5 5/9/2023 Suffolk, VA 79 Boy 5 mo
4 5/9/2023 Spring Valley, NY 70 Girl 1 yr
3 3/23/2023 Midland, TX 86 Boy 2 yr
2 3/6/2023 Port St. Lucie, FL 84 Boy 2 yr
1 2/27/2023 Atmore, AL 79 Boy 2 yr

Previous Years:  2022, 2021, 20202019, 2018, 2017, 201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420031998 ‑ 2002