Via EMS News – A child dies from heatstroke about once every 10 days from being unattended in a hot vehicle. In fact, heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle fatality for kids 14 and younger. In more than half of these deaths, the caregiver forgot the child was in the car or the child climbed into an unlocked car to play and couldn’t get themselves out. These tragedies are 100-percent preventable.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Safe Kids Worldwide are asking you to help us raise awareness about the danger of heatstroke to kids in cars through social media conversation this summer. We are reaching out to the community to get the conversation started and keep the momentum going on Twitter on July 31, every 30 minutes starting at 7 a.m. EDT – @NHTSAgov will be using the hashtags #heatstrokekills and #checkforbaby on all of its social media posts (including Instagram and Facebook) and asks you to help us take action.

Later this summer, please join us for another Tweetup on August 9 using the same hashtags. As the temperatures rise, the dangers for kids left in hot vehicles increase exponentially.

Sample social media badges and other campaign materials can be found online.

If you have questions or need any additional information, please contact Mike Joyce, NHTSA’s Office of Communications and Consumer Information, at Mike.Joyce@dot.gov or (202) 366-5600.