Experts are reminding the public of the dangers of heatstroke amid the approach of sweltering heat across much of the U.S. this week.
Temperatures in the Midwest and Northeast are forecasted to reach at least 90 degrees, impacting about 265 million people or about 82% of the national population. Aside from its impact on people, high temperatures can cause cars to overheat even faster. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, temperatures inside a car can climb to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, even when the temperature outdoors is in the 70s.
The NHTSA also notes that heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke, which can lead to death, can start to occur when one's body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A child can die when their internal body temperature reaches 107 degrees Fahrenheit due to their body's inability to further regulate their temperature, leading to organ failure and death. The nonprofit Kids and Car Safety reports that at least two children have already died this year in a hot car and over 1,083 kids have died since 1990.
Twenty-nine children died in 2023 as a result of being in a hot car, according to the NHTSA. "This is something that most parents would like to believe would never happen to them. However, what we know after documenting well over 1,000 fatalities is that this happens to wonderful, loving, responsible parents," Kids and Car Safety Director Amber Rollins previously told "Good Morning America.
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