The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and AAA Colorado held a demonstration at the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus to warn parents about the dangers of leaving children or vulnerable passengers in hot cars, even as outside temperatures begin to cool. The event was part of the Look Before You Lock campaign, which aims to raise awareness about vehicular heatstroke.
During the demonstration, organizers parked an empty car in Joy Park with a large digital thermometer inside. Within 10 minutes, the interior temperature exceeded 105º, despite cooler weather. This highlighted how quickly vehicles can become dangerous for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and pets left unattended.
“No child or other vulnerable passenger should ever be left alone in a car, no matter the outside temperature,” said CDOT’s Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Vehicular heatstroke can happen in temperatures as low as 57 degrees, so please remember to look before you lock.”
A child’s body temperature increases three to five times faster than that of an adult. While adults may not feel uncomfortable in a vehicle during mild weather, it can still pose serious risks for children.
So far in 2025, there have been 18 reported deaths among children nationwide due to being left in hot cars. Last year saw 39 such fatalities across the U.S., representing a significant increase compared to previous years. In Colorado, there have been no reported hot-car deaths since August 2008 when two siblings died after being left unattended.
Most hot car deaths occur because a child is forgotten by their caretaker or gains access to a vehicle on their own. At the event, families participated in educational activities led by museum staff and received complimentary car fresheners reminding them to check their back seats before exiting their vehicles.
“AAA is passionate about raising awareness of vehicular heatstroke and continuing our partnership with CDOT. While Colorado has historically seen low fatalities of this kind, it’s always worth a reminder to be thoughtful when it comes to the safety of children and vulnerable passengers,” said Skyler McKinley, Regional Director of Public Affairs for AAA. “Let’s continue to set an example and avoid these preventable tragedies: Always check the back seat of your vehicle before exiting.”
