Heatstroke Prevention
Social Media Contest
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  Voting is open through May 9, 2026.

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Presented by
Injury Free Coalition for Kids logo National Road Safety Foundation logo
Hot Cars Kill
Hot Cars Kill
C. C.
University of Michigan
Fellow
The goal of this graphic is to portray the severity and danger of hot cars for children. It is to remind caregivers to check their cars before locking The goal of this graphic is to portray the severity and danger of hot cars for children. It is to remind caregivers to check their cars before locking it. It also it addresses common misconceptions that cracked windows, parking in the shade, or leaving a child for “just a minute” makes it safe for children to be in a car alone.
Double-check the back to ensure your little one's safety!
Double-check the back to ensure your little one's safety!
S. C.
UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
School of Public Health
Keep your child safe by never leaving them unattended in a car and checking the backseat after each ride. Be able to watch your child(ren) grow and ex Keep your child safe by never leaving them unattended in a car and checking the backseat after each ride. Be able to watch your child(ren) grow and experience life with them for years to come.
Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke awareness infographic
R. R.
UT Health Houston School of Public Health
School of Public Health
My design strategy focuses on dismantling the "10-Minute Myth." By visually mapping the rapid 11°C temperature spike alongside the clinical reality th My design strategy focuses on dismantling the "10-Minute Myth." By visually mapping the rapid 11°C temperature spike alongside the clinical reality that a child's body heats up 3 to 5 times faster than an adult's, the goal is to make the physiological danger immediately clear to parents and caregivers. The timeline emphasizes that severe heatstroke and system failure can begin in as little as 30 minutes, reinforcing the crucial "Look Before You Lock" behavioral intervention. I designed the infographic in English and Spanish.
THIS TRAGEDY CAN BE PREVENTED
N. F.
AUIS College of Medicine
Medical School
A short video that highlights the danger a child faces when being left alone in a vehicle and the ways it can be prevented.
Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke: A Preventable Tragedy
Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke: A Preventable Tragedy
M. Z.
Jackson Health System
Medical Resident
This infographic shines a light on pediatric vehicular heatstroke, a fast and fatal preventable condition that claimed 31 young lives in 2025. It reve This infographic shines a light on pediatric vehicular heatstroke, a fast and fatal preventable condition that claimed 31 young lives in 2025. It reveals how quickly a car can turn deadly, with temperatures hitting 104°F for heatstroke and 107°F where death can occur, and explains why children overheat 3–5 times faster than adults. The clear checklist drives home the message: Lock cars, always check the back seat, never leave a child alone, and call 911 immediately if you see one in danger. Because every check saves a life.
Look Before You Lock
For the Babies
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Medical Resident
This is a social media poster that aims to raise awareness regarding Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke and also provide tips to prevent deaths and injuri This is a social media poster that aims to raise awareness regarding Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke and also provide tips to prevent deaths and injuries.
Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke Instagram Carousel
C. L.
Tufts University
School of Public Health
This five-slide Instagram carousel communicates in accessible language and scenic visualization the impact and preventative measures that can be taken This five-slide Instagram carousel communicates in accessible language and scenic visualization the impact and preventative measures that can be taken to keep children safe from pediatric vehicular heatstroke. The title is clear and eye catching, and the subtitles convey the message contained by each slide for people looking to skim without reading further. The text further down adds more nuance through statistics, providing context for a detail-oriented reader. As the carousel progresses, the audience is brought through the entire day as the sun moves through the sky beaming light on a bright-red vehicle. The fourth slide shows an adult caregiver and child safely returning to the vehicle at sunset, and ends with a clear message directed at everyone (parent or not) to check and lock their vehicle after parking. The final slide includes citations. The entire carousel was created in Adobe Illustrator to fit the Instagram Carousel Post dimensions of 1080 x 1080 px.
Look Before You Lock
University of South Florida College of Public Health Activist Lab
University of South Florida
School of Public Health
Our group developed a short video for this initiative using ice cream as a metaphor to demonstrate sensitivity to sun. The video draws a parallel betw Our group developed a short video for this initiative using ice cream as a metaphor to demonstrate sensitivity to sun. The video draws a parallel between melting ice cream and the dangers children face when left unattended in cars. The simple visual attempts to capture the audience's attention and communicate the message in a clear, meaningful way.
No Hot Tots
No Hot Tots
J. H.
St. George's University
Medical School
Pediatric vehicular heat stroke is 100% preventable. This poster captures simple steps parents and caregivers can make to save a life. It is important Pediatric vehicular heat stroke is 100% preventable. This poster captures simple steps parents and caregivers can make to save a life. It is important to always check the back seat before locking the car. Use a visual reminder, like a toy, in the front seat whenever your child is in the car. Initiate a buddy system to confirm a child’s arrival. Call 911 immediately if a child is seen alone in a vehicle. Consistent habits can be life saving!
A Quiet Car Doesn't Mean An Empty Car
A Quiet Car Doesn't Mean An Empty Car
T. F.
Safe Kids Northern New Jersey
Pediatric Nurse
This graphic shows a parked car viewed from outside the window. Inside, a teddy bear sits quietly in a child’s car seat, secured with a properly faste This graphic shows a parked car viewed from outside the window. Inside, a teddy bear sits quietly in a child’s car seat, secured with a properly fastened five-point harness. The interior is still and silent. The teddy bear serves as a powerful symbol for a child: small, quiet, and easy to miss. This scene reinforces a strong truth—a quiet car does not mean it is empty. The graphic is designed to raise awareness of pediatric vehicular heatstroke (PVH), a preventable tragedy that can occur when a child is unintentionally left in a vehicle. Even on mild days, temperatures inside a car can rise rapidly, putting a child at serious risk within minutes. By showing a silent, undisturbed scene, the graphic highlights how easily a child can be overlooked—especially during routine changes or busy moments. The teddy bear becomes a visual reminder that children may not cry out or make noise, making it essential for caregivers to build consistent habits. The intended message is clear and actionable: Always look in the back seat before locking your car. Every time. Safe Kids Northern New Jersey actively works to educate our community members on this important topic. And this graphic is just one way to remind the community how preventable heatstroke tragedies are.
Stay SAFE.
Stay SAFE.
O. T.
Marian University
Medical School
This social media graphic raises awareness about pediatric vehicular heatstroke by illustrating how quickly a parked car can become deadly. It uses a This social media graphic raises awareness about pediatric vehicular heatstroke by illustrating how quickly a parked car can become deadly. It uses a bold headline, a simple visual of a car hot under the sun, and a memorable acronym, SAFE, to guide caregivers through actionable prevention steps: Scan the backseat, Add a reminder item, Form a routine, and Emergency: Act immediately. The design combines urgency with clarity, making the information easy to understand and recall in everyday situations. The graphic emphasizes that hot car tragedies are 100% preventable and can happen to anyone, even attentive parents, due to routine changes or distractions. Its goal is to promote consistent habits and quick action, ultimately helping caregivers remember to check for children and prevent avoidable loss of life.
Not all cars can be played with.
Not all cars can be played with.
B. P.
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Medical School
I wanted to show the contrast between children playing with cars and a child suffering from heatstroke in a car. The contrast would grab the viewer's I wanted to show the contrast between children playing with cars and a child suffering from heatstroke in a car. The contrast would grab the viewer's attention, and the messaging would leave a strong reminder in their minds to be aware of pediatric vehicular heatstroke.
Look Before you Lock
Look Before you Lock
J. S.
University of Chicago
Fellow
PSA image to prevent vehicular heat stroke. Opportunity for catch phrase giveaway in the form of key chains - "Look before you lock".
Don't let this be your child's final ride.
Don't let this be your child's final ride.
V. K.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Medical School
This message demonstrates an interior view of a car on a hot summer day and demonstrates the park, look, lock ideology to remind loved ones to check t This message demonstrates an interior view of a car on a hot summer day and demonstrates the park, look, lock ideology to remind loved ones to check to ensure their child is not left behind in the car and does not suffer from heatstroke, which is a preventable cause of death.
Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke Video
B. B.
Medical school decision pending
Medical School
My submission is a brief video that aims to educate parents on what PVH is, who it impacts, and how it can be prevented. The video was created on Canv My submission is a brief video that aims to educate parents on what PVH is, who it impacts, and how it can be prevented. The video was created on Canva using licensed images.
Heat Stroke Prevention
Heat Stroke Prevention
R. C.
St. George's University
Medical School
My digital work highlights the importance of heat stroke prevention. LOOK- Your child is in the back seat, check every time. LOCK- An unlocked car can My digital work highlights the importance of heat stroke prevention. LOOK- Your child is in the back seat, check every time. LOCK- An unlocked car can trap a child inside, always lock it. REMIND- Place something you need in the back seat like a purse or work bag as a reminder. If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. Pediatric vehicular heat stroke is 100% preventable.
On A Typical Day
Valley Residents
Valley Children's Healthcare
Medical Resident
On a typical day your car can heat up fast. If something as simple as ice cream can feel the effects of the heat, then your child can too. Don't forge On a typical day your car can heat up fast. If something as simple as ice cream can feel the effects of the heat, then your child can too. Don't forget them. Remember to check the back seat every time.
Vehicular heatstroke
Vehicular heatstroke
K. F.
Goodwill Nurse Family Partnership
Pediatric Nurse
This is a graphic that helps alert parents and caregivers to the dangers of a child being left in a hot car and provides ways to prevent that from hap This is a graphic that helps alert parents and caregivers to the dangers of a child being left in a hot car and provides ways to prevent that from happening.
Be hero, check the mirror!
J. D.
New York Presbyterian - Columbia
Medical Resident
This comic-style poster promotes accidental death prevention by encouraging caregivers to check the rearview mirror before leaving their vehicle. The This comic-style poster promotes accidental death prevention by encouraging caregivers to check the rearview mirror before leaving their vehicle. The goal is to reduce the number of yearly heatstroke deaths caused by children being accidentally left in cars.