Birmingham, AL – With summer temperatures on the rise, Children’s of Alabama has launched its annual “Look and Lock: A Child Safety Campaign” to raise awareness about the dangers of pediatric vehicular heatstroke. The campaign officially began on May 1 and is being supported by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and other safety-focused state and local partners.
“We are so grateful for the continued support from ADECA,” said Ashley Bridgmon, Manager of the Health Education and Safety Center at Children’s of Alabama. “We must all do our part to prevent hot car deaths.”
Vehicular heatstroke can occur any time of year but is especially dangerous during the warmer months. According to NHTSA data, 39 children died in the U.S. from vehicular heatstroke in 2024—an increase of 35% compared to 2023. Alabama has recorded 33 such deaths from 1998 to 2024. While no child fatalities from vehicular heatstroke have occurred in the state so far this year, at least four deaths have been reported nationwide.
Over the coming months, staff from Children’s of Alabama’s Health Education and Safety Center will provide parents and caregivers with vital information about heatstroke prevention. This will include educational outreach and the distribution of safety materials. In addition, Alabama drivers can expect to see awareness billboards along popular beach travel routes this summer.
This is the second year that Children’s of Alabama has received a grant from ADECA’s Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety Division and NHTSA to support this critical public safety campaign.
