Toddler Dies After Being Left in Hot Car in Rahat

A two-year-old toddler died in the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev on Friday afternoon after being left for an extended period in a closed vehicle. Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics responded to the scene and attempted resuscitation, but were forced to declare the child deceased. Paramedics described finding the child without pulse or breathing and showing signs of heatstroke. They provided medical treatment and performed CPR, but the child's condition was critical.

According to data from the Beterem National Center for Child Safety, this is the third child fatality in 2026 due to being forgotten or trapped in a vehicle. In the past five years (2021-2025), 22 children have died in such incidents, with an additional 53 injured and 53 rescued safely. Orly Silbinger, CEO of Beterem, stated that the tragic incident serves as a painful reminder that leaving a child in a car is a potentially fatal accident. She emphasized that social and security pressures, changes in routine, stress, and fatigue can increase the likelihood of forgetting a child in a car, especially during hot weather when temperatures inside a closed vehicle can rise rapidly.

Silbinger urged the public not to assume such an event could not happen to them, as it can happen to anyone. She recommended adopting consistent habits when transporting children, such as using simple reminder methods and installing secondary protection systems to ensure no child is left behind at the end of a journey.