Dept of Early Care and Learning Reminds Parents, Caregivers to Stop and Look

For the thirteenth consecutive year, Georgia’s Department of Care and Early Learning DECAL is reminding families and caregivers of children about the danger of leaving children unattended in vehicles this summer.

The goal of this year’s “Look Again” campaign is to ensure that families, child care providers, and the public understand how to prevent pediatric vehicular heatstroke and remain vigilant when transporting children during Georgia’s hottest months.

DECAL is sponsoring “Look Again” in partnership with Georgia GOHS, Georgia Department of Public Safety, and NHTSA.

Alan Poole is the Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.  Poole reminds drivers with children in the car to always check the back seat before leaving the vehicle.

On average, one child dies from heatstroke every 10 days in the United States by crawling into an unlocked vehicle or being left in a car, intentionally or unintentionally.

A total of 31 children died from vehicular heatstroke in the U.S. in 2025, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC).

As of late June 2026, at least 8 children have died from vehicular heatstroke in the United States.

Commissioner Amy Jacobs with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning also reminds those day care centers that transport small children to be mindful and check that every child is accounted for when they arrive at their destination.

Director Poole reminds everyone that if you see a child locked in a vehicle in hot weather, you have the right to break into that vehicle to rescue them.

For more information and safety tips on keeping children safe in vehicles this summer, you can check out https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/heatstroke.