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Child or pet trapped in a hot car: rescue guide

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

The interior temperature of a parked vehicle can rise by 11 degrees Celsius (20 degrees Fahrenheit) in just 10 minutes, even with windows cracked open. Heatstroke in vehicles develops rapidly and can be fatal.

Do this now

  1. Call your local emergency number (911 in the United States, 112 in Europe, 999 in the United Kingdom) immediately.
  2. Check if any vehicle doors or the trunk are unlocked.
  3. If the child or pet is unresponsive, sweating profusely, vomiting, or distressed: break a window immediately to rescue them.
  4. Move the victim to a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area.
  5. Cool them rapidly with cool water poured over their body and fan them until emergency medical technicians arrive.

How to break a car window safely in an emergency

If a child or pet is in immediate heat danger and doors are locked:

  1. Select a window farthest away from the child or pet (usually the opposite side door window) to avoid flying glass shards.
  2. Use an emergency window breaker tool, a heavy rock, a hammer, or the metal prongs of a car headrest.
  3. Strike the lower corner of the glass window. Tempered side windows shatter into small blunt pieces when struck at the corner.
  4. Reach inside carefully, unlock the door, and pull the child or pet out into the shade.

Recognizing heatstroke in children and pets

In Children: - Red, hot, dry skin (or heavy sweating). - Dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, or hallucinations. - Rapid, weak pulse or shallow breathing. - Unconsciousness, lethargy, or seizures.

In Dogs/Pets: - Heavy, frantic panting and bright red tongue/gums. - Excessive drooling or thick saliva. - Weakness, staggering gait, vomiting, or collapse.

First aid cooling steps while waiting for 911

  • Remove heavy clothing from the child.
  • Pour cool (not ice-cold) water over their body, especially on the chest, neck, and underarms.
  • Fan the person vigorously to speed evaporative cooling.
  • If conscious and able to swallow, offer small sips of cool water.

... note "Hot car prevention laws" Good Samaritan laws in many jurisdictions protect citizens from legal liability when breaking into a vehicle to rescue a child or pet in life-threatening heat danger.