Hot Car Deaths: When Memory Fails

Since 1998, more than 1,000 children have died in hot cars. The majority of these tragic and entirely preventable losses are rooted not in neglect, but in a failure of the brain’s memory system. In this episode, we talk with Sue Auriemma, Vice President of Kids and Car Safety, about how and why these tragedies occur, the science behind memory failure, and what every parent and caregiver needs to know. Sue shares her own heartbreaking story and sheds light on the tireless advocacy efforts underway to make lifesaving technology standard in all vehicles. We explore the stigma surrounding hot car deaths, the role of public awareness, and the simple steps we can all take to prevent these tragedies.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of child loss and may be emotionally difficult for some listeners.

Additional links and resources:

Kids and Car Safety
Website: https://www.kidsandcars.org
A leading nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing injuries and deaths of children in and around vehicles.

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) – Heatstroke Prevention
Website: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/heatstroke
Offers national statistics, safety tips, and heatstroke prevention materials.

NoHeatStroke.org
Website: https://www.noheatstroke.org
Maintained by meteorologist Jan Null, this site provides comprehensive data and analysis on pediatric vehicular heatstroke deaths.

Jane Weingarten's Pulitzer Prize-winning article in The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/fatal-distraction-forgetting-a-child-in-the-backseat-of-a-car-is-a-horrifying-mistake-is-it-a-crime/2014/03/04/fb36ee3a-98c6-11e3-b88d-f36c07223d88_story.html