Hampton Roads, VA. (July 2026) – Hampton Roads is experiencing a heat wave, and it falls during July 4th. It’s a time when everyone is busy with cookouts, beach time and fun. Don’t let a momentary “I’ll just be in the store for a minute” become a tragedy by leaving a child alone in a hot car. Drive Safe Hampton Roads reminds everyone about the dangers of leaving children, older people, or pets alone in hot cars. Remember: Once You Park, Stop, Look. Lock.

Hot cars are deadly: Internal vehicle temperatures can quickly rise up to 50 degrees warmer than outside temperatures. Because a child’s body temperature increases 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s, even a cool day outside may still pose a threat to a child.

Vehicular heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children 14 and younger in the United States. Since 1998, vehicular heatstroke has killed more than 1,000 children. On average, one child dies from heatstroke every 10 days in the United States from being left in a car or getting into an unlocked vehicle. While hot car deaths can happen in any month, there is typically an increase from May through September.

In 2025, 31 children died due to vehicular heatstroke, a decrease from the 39 children in 2024. On average, 37 children die each year as a result of vehicular heatstroke. Every hot car death is preventable. Sadly, Virginia has already experienced the loss of a child being left in a hot car.

Drive Safe Hampton Roads urges all parents and caregivers to take three simple steps to help prevent hot car deaths.

First, when getting out of a car, make it a habit to check the entire vehicle, especially the back seat, EVERY time.

Second, NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended, even for one minute.

Third, ALWAYS lock the car and put the keys out of reach.

For more information on vehicle heatstroke, visit NHTSA.gov/Heatstroke. For current data, visit noheatstroke.org.

Virginia law requires all children under the age of eight to be properly restrained in an approved Department of Transportation (DOT) child restraint. This law applies to any driver, not just the parent or guardian, in any vehicle, on any highway in Virginia.

For more information: www.drivesafehr.org or call (757) 498-2562.