Never Leave Kids in the Car Alone

In some states, leaving a child alone in a car can be considered a misdemeanor offense; the offense can become a felony if there are resulting injuries. Whether it's from gear-shifted crashes, sweltering temperatures, locking parents out of a car, trunk entrapments, carjackings, or playing with windows and getting limbs (or even necks) caught, horrific accidents can and do happen in a blink of an eye.

Why Parents Leave Children in Cars Unattended

Without thinking it through, it is easy to understand why parents feel it is OK to leave a child alone in a car for a very small amount of time to perform a quick errand. These parents who don't think twice about leaving a child alone for just a minute typically dote on their youngster and would never willingly place them in harm's way.

Waking a sleeping child or getting a toddler out of a child seat in freezing cold or less-than-ideal weather is sometimes such a hassle when the errand can be done within a minute or two. But, while the actions can be explained, the consequences could never ever be undone if the unthinkable does occur.

Dangers of Leaving a Child in a Car Alone

While not the only cause of injury and death from a child left alone in a car, heat injury is one of the largest concerns and one that parents may underestimate as a risk.

On average, 39 children in the U.S. die each year from heat-related injury after being left or trapped inside motor vehicles. The numbers have been higher in recent years, with over 50 in 2018 and 2019, according to KidsandCars.org.

On a sunny 70-degree day, it only takes 30 minutes for the temperature inside a car to reach 104 degrees F (40C). After an hour, it can reach 113 degrees F (45 C). When it’s 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 C) outside, it takes just 10 minutes for the temperature inside a stationary car to rise to a life-threatening 109 degrees F (43 C).

Legal Consequences

Seventeen states have unattended child laws that address leaving a child unattended in a vehicle; two additional states have laws that only apply when there is a fatality. The remaining states do not have laws specifically against leaving a child unattended in a vehicle. There are 21 states with Good Samaritan laws with specific language that protects persons who see a child in a car and take action to render assistance.