In 2026, at least 15 children have died from heatstroke after being left or trapped in a hot car, according to the National Safety Council.
A 2-year-old child died Sunday in Midland after being left in a car for several hours, marking the state’s first pediatric hot car death of the year.
Midland police officers responded to a report at 7:56 p.m. Sunday of an unresponsive 2-year-old child locked inside a vehicle, according to a social media post by the department.
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The department said family members arrived at the residence to check on Lorenzo Rodriguez, 25, and his 2-year-old daughter after Rodriguez had “consumed alcoholic beverages the previous night.” Upon arrival, family members knocked repeatedly with no answer and removed a window air-conditioning unit to check on Rodriguez and the child.
The family members then went outside and located the child inside a vehicle. They broke a window to gain access and remove the toddler. The 2-year-old was taken to Midland Memorial Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.
According to the department, Rodriguez had been asleep since about 11 a.m. until he was woken up by the family around 8 p.m. Rodriguez has since been charged with capital murder, according to Midland Police Department.
With more 100-degree days and a potential extreme heat warning on the horizon this week in North Texas, here’s what to know about keeping children safe in the summer heat and inside hot cars.
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How long can I leave my child in the car?
In 2026, at least 15 children have died from heatstroke after being left or trapped in a hot car, according to the National Safety Council.
Under state law, children younger than age 7 cannot be left alone in a car for longer than five minutes, unless they’re with someone 14 years old or older.
According to the National Weather Service, the temperature inside a closed vehicle can rise up to 20 degrees in about 10 minutes, or 50 degrees in an hour. Even if temperatures are in the 70s, the inside of a car could reach 120 degrees within minutes and near 150 degrees in an hour.
A child’s body temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult’s, making children and young infants especially vulnerable to summer heat and heatstroke, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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What do I do if I see a child left alone in a hot car?
The majority of children who die in hot car deaths were unintentionally forgotten in the car, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. However, other common situations include children unknowingly gaining access to a car or caregivers knowingly leaving children in a hot car.
The Texas Heatstroke Task Force, a group made up of child safety advocates and first responders, recommends individuals who rescue a child from a hot car follow these steps to protect themselves from liability:
- Confirm the vehicle is locked and the child cannot get out.
- Believe the child is in imminent danger.
- Call 911 before entering the vehicle.
- Use no more force than necessary to enter the vehicle to free the child.
- Remain with the child in a safe location until first responders arrive.
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To help cool down a child with heat exhaustion, health experts recommend moving a child indoors or to a shaded area, removing excess clothing and elevating their feet.
Heat stroke symptoms could include pale skin, dizziness, sweating or high body temperatures.