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-Editorial
As summer approaches and temperatures begin to rise across the region, local health and emergency officials are reminding parents and caregivers to remain alert to the dangers of heatstroke, particularly for young children left in parked vehicles.
The Imperial County Public Health Department (ICPHD) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency, in partnership with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO), Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD), and El Centro Fire Department (ECFD), has launched a public awareness effort aimed at preventing child heatstroke deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle-related fatalities for children in the United States.
“As outside temperatures rise, the risks of children dying from being left alone inside a hot vehicle also rises,” said Eduardo Ainza, Battalion Chief with the El Centro Fire Department. Cedric Ceseña, Deputy Chief of the Imperial County Fire Department, added, “What is most tragic is that the majority of these deaths could have been prevented.”
The warning signs of heatstroke include red, hot, and dry skin; absence of sweating; a strong, rapid pulse or a slow, weak pulse; nausea; confusion; or unusual behavior. In the event a child shows any of these symptoms after being in a hot car, officials advise cooling the child quickly with water—never an ice bath—and calling 911 immediately.
Authorities are urging the public to follow three key safety steps to help prevent heatstroke: never leave a child in a vehicle unattended, even if the engine is running and the air conditioning is on; always check the backseat before exiting the vehicle; and keep car doors locked and keys out of children’s reach at all times.
Children’s bodies heat up significantly faster than those of adults. According to NHTSA, 39 children died from vehicle-related heatstroke in 2024 alone. Since 1998, the average number of child fatalities from heatstroke in the U.S. has exceeded 1,000.
In response to these ongoing dangers, NHTSA launched the “Prevent Hot Car Deaths: STOP. LOOK. LOCK.” campaign in 2012. The initiative encourages drivers to build habits that help ensure no child is ever left behind in a vehicle. As part of the campaign, local agencies have distributed educational posters to healthcare providers and childcare facilities across Imperial County.
Local officials urge the community to remain proactive and aware as temperatures increase, emphasizing that a moment of caution can prevent a lifetime of tragedy.