The Hawaiʻi Police Department is raising awareness during Heatstroke Awareness Month in May about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. The temperature inside a parked car can increase by 20 degrees within 10 minutes, creating a risk of heat-related illness for children, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department.
“Children’s bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults’ and for our keiki, this can mean heatstroke, brain damage, or even death,” said Torey D. Keltner, program manager of the Hawaiʻi Police Department’s Traffic Services Section. Each year, an average of 37 children under age 15 die from heatstroke after being left in vehicles. In 2025, three children have died nationwide so far, compared to 39 in 2024.
The Hawai‘i Police Department recommends simple safety steps to prevent child deaths in hot cars: always check the back seat before locking the vehicle, place a stuffed animal in the front seat as a reminder, and follow the routine “Park. Look. Lock.” If a child is found alone in a car, call 911 immediately. These actions can help protect children. As Keltner said, “Let’s protect our keiki and keep our ohana safe. Together, we can prevent tragedy."
