Pittsburgh, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) urges motorists to always check the back seat of your vehicle before locking it and walking away.

Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash related fatalities for children 14 and younger according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Within 10 minutes, the temperature in a car can rise by 20 degrees, creating dangerous conditions for a child. According to noheatstroke.org, there were 14 pediatric vehicular stroke deaths in 2023.

NHTSA offers the following tips to ensure the safety of your child this summer:

• Never leave a child in a vehicle unattended for any length of time. Rolling down the windows or parking in the shade does little to change the interior temperature of the vehicle.
• Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle before locking the doors and walking away.
• Place a personal item such as a purse or briefcase in the backseat as a reminder to look before you lock it.
• Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger seat as another reminder that your child is in the back seat.

  If you happen to see a child left unattended, be sure to take immediate action. If the child is not responsive or in distress, call 911 immediately and get the child out of the car. If a child is responsive, stay with them until help arrives while someone else searches for the driver.

  Pennsylvania Law provides civil immunity for damage done to a vehicle when forceful entry is necessary to rescue a child.