MARSHFIELD – No parent or caregiver likes to imagine they would forget their child in a hot car, but studies show about 40 kids in the U.S. die each year after being left behind.
That trend is continuing: Six children ages 6 and younger have died after being left in hot cars so far this year, according to data from Kids and Car Safety. Children being left alone in vehicles is something area officials say does happen here.
“While it’s not an everyday occurrence, it happens often enough during the warmer months that we remain vigilant and encourage the public to do the same,” Wisconsin Rapids Police Chief Daniel Hostens said.
The deaths continue despite a federal mandate requiring automakers to install rear occupant alert systems in all new vehicles by November 2023. That deadline has passed without action from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has yet to issue even the initial Notice of Proposed Rulemaking required to begin the process.
"Since the law was enacted, at least 130 babies have died in hot cars," Kids and Car Safety stated in a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a Hayward, Wis., native. "How many more must die before action is taken?"
The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act required NHTSA to establish safety standards for technology designed to detect when children or pets are left in vehicles. The bipartisan legislation came after years of advocacy from safety groups highlighting the preventable nature of these deaths.
According to NHTSA data, a child dies in a hot car approximately every nine days. In 2024, 39 children died of vehicular heatstroke, representing a 35% increase from the previous year.
The majority of these incidents involve parents who unknowingly left their children in vehicles, safety advocates say. More than half of hot car deaths occur when caregivers forget children are in the car, often during stressful or routine-disrupting circumstances.
"It has happened to a teacher, dentist, social worker, police officer, nurse, clergyman, soldier and even a rocket scientist," Kids and Car Safety noted. "It can happen to anyone."
Vehicle temperatures can reach dangerous levels quickly, even in moderate weather. Cars can heat up to 125 degrees within minutes, with 80% of temperature increases occurring in the first 10 minutes. Deaths have occurred in temperatures as low as 60 degrees, and children's bodies overheat three to five times faster than adults.
This weekend, temperatures in central Wisconsin are expected to hit the 90s.
“If someone sees a pet or kid in a car, and they think they are in imminent danger, they should call 911 immediately,” Marshfield Police Chief Jody Geurink said. “We will send officers and likely an ambulance. It would be a good idea to take steps to try to find the owner of the vehicle if possible.”
Hostens said his officers will do the same.
“Time is critical in these cases, as the interior of a vehicle can reach dangerous temperatures very quickly, even with windows cracked,” he said.
If a passerby does think they need to take action, such as breaking out a window to save a child or pet, Wisconsin law does offer some protections. But they do need to follow certain steps.
“Each situation is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the force used was necessary and if the actions met the legal criteria,” Hostens said. “That said, our focus in these situations is always the safety and wellbeing of the individuals or animals involved.”
While federal technology standards remain stalled, some automakers have already begun installing rear occupant alert systems voluntarily. These technologies use door sensors, weight detection, or motion sensors to remind drivers to check back seats before exiting vehicles. Most systems can be disabled by drivers, though safety experts recommend keeping them active.
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