Stranded in a Hot Car: What to Do in a Roadside Heat Emergency

This is general safety information, not medical advice. In any heat emergency, call 911. If someone is confused, has stopped sweating, or has hot skin, treat it as a medical emergency and call 911 immediately.

If you are stranded in extreme heat, the priorities are simple: call for help, get out of the sun into shade and moving air if it is safe, stay hydrated, make yourself visible to traffic, and watch everyone for signs of heat illness. A parked car heats up fast, so do not plan to wait it out inside a baking cabin.

Do these first

1. Call for help. Call 911 if anyone is in distress, or roadside assistance if it is a vehicle problem. Share your location early; phone batteries and signal can fade.
2. Get out of direct sun, if it is safe. A parked car can climb past 130 degrees inside. If you can safely reach shade and moving air away from traffic, that is usually better than sitting in a hot cabin.
3. Stay visible. Turn on hazards, set out a reflective marker or triangle, and put on a high-visibility vest so traffic and responders can see you.
4. Hydrate and cool down. Sip water, loosen tight clothing, and use shade, a wet cooling towel, or a fan to lower body heat.
5. Keep everyone together. Never leave children or pets in the vehicle, even for a moment.

Watch for heat illness

Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, cool or clammy skin, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness. Move to shade, cool the body, and sip water. Get medical help if it worsens or lasts more than an hour.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Call 911: hot skin, confusion, a fast pulse, and sweating that may stop. Call 911, move the person to a cooler place, and cool them with water, wet cloths, or fanning while you wait. Do not force fluids on someone who is confused.

Why the gear in your car matters

Being able to do the steps above depends on what you carry. Shade you can rig, shelf-stable water, high-visibility signaling, an escape tool, and a cooling towel turn a dangerous roadside wait into a manageable one. The catch is that some of that gear should not bake in a hot trunk, so see what is safe to keep in a hot car and how to prepare your car for a heat wave.

FAQ

Sources

• CDC — Heat and Health
• National Weather Service — Heat Safety and National Weather Service — Heat and Cars
• Ready.gov — Water