New devices intended to prevent children from dying of heat stroke in parked vehicles are unreliable , and should not be used as stand-alone measures to prevent such tragedies , the federal government warned Monday . The devices , which sense the presence of a child in a car after the adult walks away , were determined to be `` inconsistent and unreliable '' and could give parents a false sense of security , National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief David Strickland said . `` Though well-intentioned , we can not recommend parents and caregivers rely on technology to prevent these events from occurring , '' Strickland said . The warning is the latest concerning a phenomenon that has befuddled safety experts and terrified parents : the unintentional abandonment of children in cars . In many cases , parents or caregivers -- stressed by heavy workloads or distracted by minor changes in their normal routine -- absent-mindedly leave children in cars , only to later discover them dead or suffering from hyperthermia . Indeed , heat stroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicle deaths for children under the age of 14 , the safety agency said . A total of 527 children have died of heat stroke in cars since 1998 , an average of 38 children a year , it said . In about 51 % of the cases , a parent or caregiver forgot about the child . In another 17 % , an adult intentionally left a child in the vehicle , apparently unaware that heat can quickly rise to deadly levels even on mildly warm days . And in 30 % of the cases , the child entered an unlocked , unattended vehicle . The tragedies have prompted a number of manufacturers to develop products to remind parents to check their cars . Though some devices offer simple reminders to check on children , the safety agency 's study , conducted by the Children 's Hospital of Philadelphia , focused on devices that sense the presence of a child in a safety seat or restraint and alert the caregiver if he or she walks away from the car . `` We evaluated whether the device notified the caregiver as they walked away from the vehicle , and we measured the distance at which the alarm sounded , '' said Kristy Arbogast , the study 's author . `` The results showed that none of these three devices ... were completely reliable and consistent in their function and ability to detect children . '' Researchers noted numerous problems with the devices , saying some require the adults to adjust the position of the child within the restraint , some ca n't function in the presence of liquids , and some are hampered by cell phone interference . Arbogast commended manufacturers for attempting to address the safety issues , and said they are working to refine their technologies . The government stopped short of advising parents not to use the devices , saying they could be used as part of a `` layered '' approach to protecting a child . Instead , the safety agency advises that drivers should make a habit of looking in vehicles -- front and back -- before locking the doors and walking away . They should also place a Teddy Bear or note on the front seat as a reminder that a child is in the car , or place a cell phone , purse or briefcase in the back seat to ensure no child is accidentally left in the vehicle . They also suggest asking child care providers to call if a child does not show up for care as expected . Importantly , none of the aftermarket devices protect against a child entering an unlocked vehicle . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said parents should teach children a vehicle is not a play area , and should store keys out of the reach of children . Agency officials said heat stroke tragedies have befallen people of all education levels and all walks of life . During an agency conference call with reporters Monday , Reginald McKinnon , a supervisor for a telecommunications company , described losing his young daughter after unintentionally leaving her in a car in 2010 . He did n't realize his error until returning to his SUV and opening the vehicle to put down his laptop computer . `` That 's the exact moment I 'll never forget , '' McKinnon said . `` To my horror , I realized Payton was still in her car seat . It 's the last thing I remember . I heard someone screaming ; it was me . '' McKinnon said he still does n't understand how the incident occurred . `` I know you must be asking yourself , how did he forget his own child ? And it 's a legitimate question , and it 's one I 've asked myself every day for over two years now . `` And regardless of the painful hours of soul searching , therapy and prayers my family and I have undergone , it 's a question that remains unanswered : How did I forget my child ? '' He added that `` experts will tell you that it can happen to anybody . They say our busy lifestyles can create enough stress to trigger mental lapses . It appears minor changes to daily routines contribute to these mental lapses and the stressed-out brain can bury a thought . Something as trite as a cup of coffee or as crucial as a baby can go on autopilot . `` And while all that might be true , I can tell you personally when you 've gone through it , it really does n't help . ''
New signs are designed to warn drivers if they see a child in the back seat of a car . The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says they are ` ` inconsistent and unreliable '' Heat stroke is the leading cause of non - crash vehicle deaths for children under the age of 14 .