Families Demand Action on National Heatstroke Prevention Day

 CHATTANOOGA, TN-(WDEF) On National Heatstroke Prevention Day, more than 100 grieving families from across the country joined advocacy group Kids and Car Safety to urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to take swift action to prevent hot car deaths.

The group is calling for a federal requirement that all new vehicles be equipped with occupant detection technology—a solution advocates say is effective, affordable, and already available.

“While parents do everything they can to prevent tragedies, the best prevention is a technology-based solution,” said Sue Auriemma with Kids and Car Safety. “We’re seeing more vehicles now that can detect a living human in any seat. The technology exists—it just needs to be required.”

Since 1990, more than 1,100 children have died in hot cars in the United States. Advocates argue that requiring occupant detection systems in all new vehicles could help ensure no family suffers the same loss.

To learn more visit Kidsandcars.org