The Texas Heatstroke Task Force is a network of child safety advocates, first responders, medical professionals, educators and others across the state who include child vehicular heatstroke prevention activities in their day-to-day work.
Our mission:
Prevent child injuries and deaths from vehicular heatstroke through education and awareness across Texas.
Join Us! If you have a passion for the prevention of vehicular heatstroke, we would love to work with you!
You can reach out to us at: [email protected]
Find us on Facebook at: Texas Heatstroke Task Force | Facebook
It’s the Law
It is illegal in Texas to leave a child under age 7 alone in a vehicle longer than 5 minutes, unless with someone age 14 or older.
Texas law provides liability protection for anyone who rescues a child from a hot car if the person follows these steps:
- Confirms the vehicle is locked and the child cannot get out on their own
- Believes the child is in imminent danger
- Calls 911, police, or another first responder before entering the vehicle
- Uses no more force than necessary to enter the vehicle
- Remains with the child in a safe location near the vehicle until first responders arrive
If you see a child alone in a car, call 911. 911 calls are confidential.
Resources for Prevention
Tool kit files are shared via a cloud-based platform. If you have difficulty accessing the files, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Protecting children from vehicular heatstroke starts with awareness and continues with action. This folder features Texas-branded versions of key materials found in the national tool kits for hospitals, childcare providers, advocacy groups, employers, retailers, and Indigenous communities.
Each set includes customizable, ready-to-use resources such as:
- Printable Parking Lot Signage
- Printable Posters
- Printable Infographics
- Printable Bookmark
- Printable Handfan
These tools are designed to help you educate staff, engage families, and raise awareness in your community and all with consistent messaging tailored for Texas audiences.
Everything is organized, accessible, and easy to implement — empowering local and state partners to take life-saving action and prevent hot car tragedies.
- Texas law requires hospitals and birthing centers to provide information about the danger of heatstroke in vehicles.
The Advocate Tool Kit is designed to equip advocates, community leaders, nonprofit organizations and safety partners with ready-to-use resources to spread lifesaving messages and drive meaningful change.
The Childcare Tool Kit is designed to support childcare centers, family childcare homes and early childhood programs in educating staff, caregivers and families. It offers practical resources that can be easily incorporated into your existing communication and safety practices.
The Employer/Retailer Tool Kit is designed to equip advocates, community leaders, nonprofit organizations and safety partners with ready-to-use resources to spread lifesaving messages and drive meaningful change.
The Hospital Tool Kit is designed to provide hospitals, clinics and healthcare staff with easy-to-use resources to educate caregivers, volunteers and the broader community. Here, you will find customizable materials, educational tools and outreach resources that can be seamlessly integrated into your hospital’s existing safety program.
Protecting children from pediatric vehicular heatstroke (PVH) starts with awareness and action. This tool kit was developed to support indigenous communities with clear, practical resources to help prevent hot car tragedies.
All resources are organized, adaptable, and ready to use. You can also submit a PNG-formatted logo to have it co-branded on the materials provided — simply email your request to [email protected].
- Tool Kit Contents
- Printable Resources
- Posters (Coming Soon)
- Infographics
- Parking Lot Signs
- Window Cling
- Customizable Emails
- Talking Points
Use ready-made social media posts for easy sharing online.
Innovative Concepts Tripod Display
Product Description: The Never Leave Your Child Alone Table Tripod Display allows you to educate families about heatstroke by displaying the ACT tips. The unit houses two 4 inch red LED Temperature Displays that provides a visual representation of the outdoor temperature and the temperature inside a vehicle after being parked in that same environment for a period. The unit includes two cabled sensor probes to be placed outdoors and within a vehicle. The unit is required to be plugged in to a suitable electrical outlet for operation.
Details: The kit includes an LED Temperature Unit (Temp Range: -4 F to +140 F) with integrated tripod mount, a tripod with carrying case and Velcro straps, a standard sign with ACT tips, and two cabled temperature sensors.
Product Dimensions:
LED Temperature Display Unit – 19.5 inches tall by 16.5 inches wide by 3.25 inches deep – Approximately 14 lbs.
Tripod – 5 inches by 5 inches by 48 inches (Folded) – Approximately 12 lbs.
*The Never Leave Your Child Alone Tripod Display is manufactured at our facility located in Dunkirk, Maryland USA. Each item is custom manufactured to order. Please allow 8 to 10 weeks for delivery if not currently in stock.
Innovative Concepts Tabletop Display
Product Description: The Never Leave Your Child Alone Table Top Display allows you to educate families about heatstroke by displaying the ACT tips. There is also a mounted temperature display unit that provides a visual representation of the outdoor temperature and the temperature inside a vehicle after being parked in that same environment for a period. The portable sensor it to be placed inside the vehicle, but not in direct sunlight to give the most accurate reading.
Details: The kit includes a 17.75” by 11.75” sign with a mounted temperature display unit (Temp Range: -39.8 F to +139.8 F) that fits into a pre-cut angled base. The temperature display unit includes a movable sensor to be placed inside a vehicle.
*The Never Leave Your Child Alone Tabletop Display is manufactured at our facility located in Dunkirk, Maryland USA. Each item is custom manufactured to order. Please allow 1 to 3 weeks for delivery.
NOTE: Loaner displays available for Task Force members to borrow. Contact us at [email protected]
Quick, Accessible and Impactful Learning
Children in Hot Cars – 10-Minute E-Learning Course
Every year, children suffer fatal heatstroke after being left in hot cars—an entirely preventable tragedy. Whether it’s a change in routine, a moment of distraction, or an assumption that a quick stop is safe, the risk is real. This short, engaging, and interactive 10-minute e-learning course is designed to raise awareness and equip individuals with the knowledge to prevent these heartbreaking incidents.
Flexible Enrollment: Learn as an Individual or Train as a Group
- Individuals can easily enroll and complete the course at their own pace.
- Organizations, schools, and businesses can set up group training, allowing a designated administrator to track participant progress and ensure completion.
National Vehicular Heatstroke Resources
Learn more about vehicular heatstroke from national resources. Learn how these deaths occur and what you can do to prevent injuries and deaths.
Texas Heatstroke Task Force Leadership
Carlee McConnell, Chair
Johnny Humphreys, Board President
Texas Vehicular Heatstroke Resources
Texas Health and Human Services – Injury Prevention