Dog-days of summer raise child safety concerns

Tragic is the only way to describe the entirely preventable deaths of 20 children across the U.S. as of Aug. 29, 2025.

Just as sobering and tragic is the fact that more of those deaths have happened in Texas than in any other state. Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke has claimed the lives of five Texas children since June 27, 2025.

The deaths have occurred in Brownsville, Galena Park near Houston, San Antonio, and most recently, Poteet, which is approximately 30 miles south of San Antonio.

“We haven’t had any of these tragedies in our immediate area this year,” said Tim Monzingo, public information officer for the Lufkin District, which covers nine Deep East Texas counties. “Unfortunately, just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t happen, and it can happen to anyone.”

Frequently, the reason for Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke is something as simple as a memory lapse, where a caregiver, operating on autopilot through their daily tasks, forgets about a child in the vehicle. This accounts for approximately 53 percent of deaths.

Children getting into unattended vehicles without a caregiver knowing accounts for about 24 percent of cases, while a caregiver intentionally leaving a child in a car is behind 22 percent of the fatalities.

“We all know accidents happen, but they are preventable, and it’s particularly important to prevent those that may lead to the death of a child,” said Melissa McKnight, Traffic Safety Specialist for the TxDOT Lufkin District. “If you make it a habit of reminding yourself to check the back seat if you travel with children, it really reduces the chance of a memory lapse.”

To encourage safe habits for those who travel or care for kids, follow the ACT acronym, which stands for Avoid heatstroke-related injuries; Create Reminders; Take action.

• Avoid heatstroke-related injury
  Never leave a child alone in a car, not even for a quick trip into a store. Always lock your doors and trunk - including in your driveway or garage. If a child is missing, check the pool and water sources first, then check vehicles, including trunks.
• Create reminders
  Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child's seat when it's empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back sear. Or place and secure your phone, briefcase or purse in the back seat when traveling with your child.
• Take action
  If you see a child alone in a car, take action. Call 911.

“Sharing this information with the people in your life who have kids, or travel with them often might be critical to preventing a tragedy,” Monzingo said. “That’s something all Texans can get behind.”