Authorities Remind Drivers to “Look Before You Lock” As Temperatures Begin to Rise

Published June 15, 2021

As we enter the summer and the temperatures begin to rise, Louisiana State Police would like to remind the public of the risks of vehicle heatstroke. Vehicle heatstroke is one of the leading causes of traffic-related death for children in the United States, resulting in the deaths of 883 young children since 1998.
A child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult’s and heatstroke can occur in outside temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, a car can reach deadly temperature levels in just 10 minutes.

Louisiana State Police urges all parents and caregivers to do these three things to help prevent child heatstroke:
• Make it a habit to look in the back seat EVERY time you exit the car
• NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended
• ALWAYS lock the car and put the keys out of reach

For more information on vehicle heatstroke, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/heatstroke.