WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today released a video statement warning parents and caregivers of the dangers of leaving children unattended in the back seat of cars as outdoor temperatures rise this summer.

“The summer months are often a time to spend enjoying the long days of sun with family and friends. But they can also bring dangerous heat, especially in Mississippi,” Wicker said. “And for children who are left behind in the back seat of a vehicle, this heat can be deadly.”

Wicker’s message follows efforts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to raise awareness of child heat stroke deaths in their “Look Before You Lock” safety campaign. The federal agency has noted that over 900 children have died of heatstroke since 1998 after being left or becoming trapped in a hot car.

In 2019, Wicker authored the HOT CARS Act, which would require manufacturers to install rear seat warning devices in vehicles to help prevent drivers from leaving children unattended. Wicker has since worked with the car manufacturing industry to develop a voluntary agreement that would implement this technology in all new vehicle models starting in 2025. 

For more resources on how to prevent hot car deaths from NHTSA, click here.

See Wicker’s full message to the public below.

Hello, I’m U.S. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi with a public safety message about hot car deaths.

The summer months are often a time to spend enjoying the long days of sun with family and friends. But they can also bring dangerous heat, especially in Mississippi.

And for children who are left behind in the back seat of a vehicle, this heat can be deadly.

Young children are particularly susceptible to heatstroke.

Even with the windows cracked, outdoor temperatures as low as 57 degrees can prove fatal.

Parents should remember never to leave a child alone in a car.

As hotter days approach this summer - It is vitally important that parents and caregivers remember to “Look before you lock” to avoid leaving a child behind.

And if you see a child left in a car alone, please call 911 immediately. It could save a life.

Thank you.