Hot Car Deaths and the Ohio Good Samaritan Law: Understanding Legal Protection and Responsibility

Posted in Accident & Injury, Health & Wellness on June 22, 2025

Every year, an average of 39 to 40 children die from heatstroke after being left in hot vehicles. In 2024, 39 children lost their lives this way, a sharp increase from the 29 deaths reported in 2023. Pets face similar dangers. According to PETA, 111 animals have died from heat-related causes in 2024, and another 388 were rescued from life-threatening conditions. And those are just the incidents that were reported. The real number is likely much higher.

How to Respond Safely in Ohio

First, if the child or pet appears to be okay, attempt to locate the parents. If you’re in a public place, have the facility page the car owner over the intercom system.

Good Samaritans who break into a vehicle to save a minor or an animal are protected by Ohio law from any civil liability or damages.

If the child or pet is in distress or unresponsive, follow these instructions:

• Quickly check for unlocked doors, then call 911 or recruit a bystander to do so if you’re not able to gain access to the vehicle.
  • Under Ohio law, you must take these steps to receive immunity for any damage or other charges.
• If locked, locate a tool you can use to break the car window, such as a tire iron or screwdriver. If you keep an emergency kit in your vehicle, consider adding an inexpensive window hammer.
• Select the side window furthest from the child to reduce the risk of injuries resulting from shattered glass.
• Drive the tool into one of the window’s lower corners until the glass breaks. Avoid focusing your efforts on the center of the window, as this is the strongest section.
• Carefully clear any remaining glass shards from the edges of the window and remove the child from the vehicle while you wait for emergency personnel to arrive at the scene.

Sections 2151.88 and 959.133 of the Ohio Revised Code outline the full details of the immunity offered to those who come to the rescue in these situations. Take a few minutes to review the guidelines so you’ll be prepared to take action without hesitation.

How Fast It Happens: Elapsed Time vs. Interior Car Temperature (F)

It doesn’t take long. On a 70-degree day, the temperature inside a car can hit 100 degrees in just 20 minutes. After an hour, it can rise past 110 degrees. Cracking the windows or parking in the shade does little to prevent the heat from becoming dangerous.

Children’s bodies heat up faster than adults, and pets can’t sweat to regulate their temperature. These conditions can become deadly faster than most people realize.

Preventive Measures: Build Habits That Save Lives

• Always check the back seat before locking your car, every time. Use reminders like keys or purses placed back there.

• Keep your car locked, even in your driveway, to avoid pets or children wandering inside.

• Educate caregivers and family members so everyone follows the same safety habits.

The temperature inside a parked car can become lethal within just minutes, and memory lapses can happen to anyone. It only takes one person, one moment of awareness, to turn a tragic incident into a rescue. You have the knowledge and the law on your side.