Three young children tragically lost their lives in separate hot car incidents over the past week, underscoring the ongoing dangers families face as temperatures rise heading into Memorial Day Weekend.

According to the advocacy group Kids and Car Safety, at least five children nationwide have already died in hot cars in 2026.

The recent tragedies include:

• A 2-month-old infant in Fredericksburg on May 20 after reportedly being left in a vehicle by the child’s mother.
• A 1-year-old child in Brookwood on May 20 after reportedly being left in a vehicle by the child’s father.
• A 4-year-old child in Los Angeles on May 19 after reportedly being left in a vehicle by a carpool driver.

Data collected by Kids and Car Safety shows that at least 1,177 children have died in hot cars nationwide since 1990, while another 7,500 survived with varying degrees of injury. Approximately 86% of the children who die are age 3 or younger, and more than half were unknowingly left behind by otherwise loving and responsible caregivers.

Safety advocates warn that long holiday weekends often coincide with an increase in vehicle-related child tragedies due to disrupted routines and schedule changes. In many cases, children who were supposed to be dropped off at daycare were unintentionally forgotten in the back seat.

Amber Rollins, Executive Director of Kids and Car Safety, said the tragedies are entirely preventable.

“Somewhere today, a parent is kissing their baby goodbye, completely unaware that a routine day could end in tragedy,” Rollins said. “A simple reminder habit, a check of the back seat, or lifesaving technology can spare a family a lifetime of grief.”

Advocates are also renewing calls for federal action on occupant detection technology in vehicles. A provision passed as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act required the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue regulations by November 2023 mandating technology designed to help prevent hot car deaths in new vehicles. According to Kids and Car Safety, the final rule is now more than two years overdue.

The organization says automakers do not need to wait for federal regulations and can begin implementing the technology immediately.

Parents and caregivers are urged to take extra precautions, including placing essential items such as phones, handbags, work badges, or diaper bags in the back seat as reminders to check for children before exiting the vehicle. Safety experts also recommend asking childcare providers to immediately call if a child does not arrive as scheduled.

Families are additionally reminded to keep vehicles locked at all times and ensure children cannot access parked cars unattended.

TLS readers are encouraged to share ideas, habits, products, or technology they have personally found effective in helping prevent children from being left in vehicles. Community awareness and shared safety practices may help save lives.