United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention

About

Nearly every state in the United States has been affected by a pediatric vehicular heatstroke death. Use this campaign material to help educate parents and caregivers about the dangers of hot cars, including children getting trapped in an unlocked vehicle, being forgotten or mistakenly left, or purposely left. Material also includes safety information for bystanders to safely remove a child from a hot car.

Timely Messaging: 

  • Monitor weather conditions in your area to determine the best time to use this communication material. While summertime is the peak season, heatstroke can occur in outdoor temperatures as low as 60 degrees. 
  • May 1, Heatstroke Prevention Day.  

Communication and marketing material featuring the call to action are now available on this page.

Many assets are available in English and Spanish. Share this information with partner organizations to help spread the message across all communities. 

Facts

Facts from NoHeatstroke.org

 Get More Facts
  • More than 1,000 children have died due to pediatric vehicular heatstroke since 1998.
  • 29 children died in 2023 because of vehicular heatstroke.
  • On average, 37 children die per year due to vehicular heatstroke. 
  • In 2018 and 2019, we saw a record number of hot car deaths - 53 children died each year.

Graphics

Asset Type

English
Forgotten | English 1200x1200 | Static
Gained Access | English 1200x1200 | Static
Spanish
Forgotten | Spanish 1200x1200 | Static
Gained Access | Spanish 1200x1200 | Static

Talking Points

We've prepared talking points related to heatstroke prevention. After downloading, we encourage you to add local stats and facts to the document. 

Earned Media

We've produced sample news release that can be used for media outreach.

Social Media

This social media playbook contains sample social media content in English and Spanish. Download this guide for instructions on posting graphics to Facebook, X and Instagram. The content is designed for easy posting and seamless integration into your current social media strategy.

Also, additional sample social media posts are available for download.

Message Boards

SAVE A LIFE

PREVENT

HOT CAR DEATHS

PREVENT CHILD

HOT CAR DEATHS

STOP LOOK LOCK

PREVENT

HOT CAR DEATHS

STOP LOOK LOCK

Download All Text

Ads

Asset Type

Video, Audio | English
Child Heatstroke | Forgotten | English TV & Digital | :60 :30 available at AdCouncil.org
Child Heatstroke | Gained Access | English TV & Digital | :60 :30 available at AdCouncil.org
Forgotten | English Radio | :60, :30 available at AdCouncil.org
Gained Access | English Radio | :60, :30 available at AdCouncil.org
Digital, Print, OOH | English
Banner | English Multiple options available at available at AdCouncil.org
Out-of-Home | English Multiple options available at available at AdCouncil.org
Print | English Multiple options available at available at AdCouncil.org
Video, Audio | Spanish
Child Heatstroke | Forgotten | Spanish TV & Digital | :60 :30 available at AdCouncil.org
Child Heatstroke | Gained Access | Spanish TV & Digital | :60 :30 available at AdCouncil.org
Forgotten | Spanish Radio | :60, :30 available at AdCouncil.org
Gained Access | Spanish Radio | :60, :30 available at AdCouncil.org
Digital, Print, OOH | Spanish
Banner | Spanish Multiple options available at available at AdCouncil.org
Out-of-Home | Spanish Multiple options available at available at AdCouncil.org
Print | Spanish Multiple options available at available at AdCouncil.org

The above videos are available on YouTube and through AdCouncil.org. 

Note: No one may alter, edit, or change a NHTSA TV ad or web video.

Reports

Campaign Research Results

Additional Resources