As summer heat creeps back in, the Columbia Police Department is warning residents about a danger that can turn deadly in minutes. In a May 29, 2026, Facebook post, the department highlighted that 31 children died nationwide in 2025 after being left or trapped in hot cars, and urged neighbors to take simple steps to prevent another tragic season.
Officers told drivers to lock their vehicles, store keys out of reach of children, and always check the back seat before walking away. They stressed that these incidents often unfold quickly, sometimes even in what feels like mild weather. Police also called on the public to act immediately if they see a child alone in a vehicle, saying parked cars can become lethal far faster than many people realize.
National Toll and What the Data Show
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 31 children died of heatstroke in vehicles in 2025. The agency reports that more than 1,000 children have died in hot cars over the past 25 years, and that in over half of pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths, a caregiver unknowingly left a child in the vehicle.
Jan Null’s tracker at NoHeatStroke.org keeps a month-by-month tally and likewise records 31 pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths for 2025, updated through Dec. 31, 2025. The site’s state-by-state breakdown gives researchers and safety officials a running database they use to spot seasonal and regional patterns.
How Quickly a Parked Car Becomes Deadly
Tests by Consumer Reports show that a closed car can reach dangerous temperatures even on mild days. In one set of tests, the interior climbed above 105°F after an hour when the outside temperature averaged 61°F. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration similarly warns that on a 60°F day, a vehicle’s interior can reach roughly 110°F over several hours, putting young children at extreme risk.
What Safety Groups and the State Recommend
State officials and safety groups emphasize straightforward habits that can make all the difference: never leave a child unattended, always check the back seat before you lock the car, and keep keys and fobs out of children’s reach. They also encourage visible reminders, such as the "Baby in the Back" hangtag program promoted by Tennessee officials. The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office describes how the hangtags are distributed at driver services centers, health departments, and participating AAA branches.
National organizations like Kids and Car Safety echo those same steps and also push for technology that can alert caregivers when a passenger is left behind.
What the Columbia Police Want Neighbors to Do
Columbia police asked residents to lock their cars, keep keys out of reach of children, and call 911 if they see a child alone in a vehicle, according to the department’s Facebook post on May 29, 2026. The post points readers to national resources, including NoHeatStroke.org, for updated tallies and safety material.
Officers said quick action by passersby can save lives and urged the community to treat any child left in a car as a medical emergency, not a minor concern or something to “wait and see” about.
