[Seguin, Texas (June 12, 2025)]  – Hot summer days have contributed to more than ten child deaths so far this year in the United States as a result of heatstroke, which can happen when kids are unattended in cars. Guadalupe Regional Medical Center (GRMC) reminds caregivers to never leave children alone in a vehicle, and if you see a child alone in a car, call 911.

Heatstroke, also known as hyperthermia, is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children. It occurs when the body can’t cool itself quickly enough, and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels. Young children are particularly at risk as their bodies heat up three to five times faster than an adult’s. Since 1998, at least 1,011 children across the United States have died from heatstroke when alone in a vehicle.

“A car can heat up 19 degrees in 10 minutes. And cracking a window doesn’t help,” said Amy Anderson, MSN, RN, GRMC Trauma Coordinator. “Heatstroke can happen anytime, anywhere. We don’t want to see this happen to any family. That’s why GRMC is asking everyone to help protect kids from this very preventable tragedy by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute.”

To raise awareness and demonstrate how quickly temperatures rise in a locked vehicle, GRMC will set up a car thermometer temperature display starting Monday, June 9th. The display will be located outside the Patient Tower entrance and will be visible to those walking in and out of the facility. The goal is to highlight the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, especially during the intense summer heat.

Together, we can cut down the number of deaths and near misses by remembering to A.C.T.

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving a child alone in a car, not even for a minute. Also, be sure to keep your car locked when you’re not inside, so kids don’t get in on their own.

C: Create reminders. Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase, or purse in the back seat when traveling with your child.

T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

For more information on preventing child heatstroke deaths, please visit www.safekids.org/heatstroke.

From L to R: Amy Anderson, MSN, RN, GRMC Trauma Coordinator; Denise Brown, BSN, RN, GRMC Clinical Coordinator; Nicole Patek, MSN, RN, GRMC Executive Director of Emergency Department