United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom warned about the risks of leaving children unattended in vehicles after a 5-year-old boy in Lod died following an apparent two-hour period alone in his family's car. Emergency teams performed advanced resuscitation and transferred the child to Shamir Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police have opened an investigation while Beterem, Safe Kids Israel data show 23 children died in similar incidents from 2021–2025. Rescuers urged caregivers to always check the back seat before leaving a vehicle.
5-Year-Old Dies After Being Left in Car in Lod; Rescuers Urge Parents to ‘Stop for One Second’
Magen David Adom Ambulance (photo credit: MDA)
United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom (MDA) have issued renewed warnings about the dangers of leaving children unattended inside vehicles after a 5-year-old boy in Lod died following an apparent two-hour period alone in his family's car.
According to emergency responders, the child was found unconscious inside the vehicle exhibiting signs of severe heatstroke. MDA teams performed advanced resuscitation at the scene and transferred him in critical condition to the pediatric trauma unit at Shamir Medical Center, Assaf Harofeh, where doctors later pronounced him dead.
What Happened
Preliminary information under investigation indicates the family returned home after a drive during which the boy fell asleep. Family members are suspected of leaving the vehicle while the child remained inside. Roughly two hours later the father realized the child was not in the house, checked the car, found his son unconscious and called MDA.
Emergency Response
MDA medic Efi Rosenblum, who received the alert via the organization’s first-responders app and lives nearby, said bystanders removed the child from the vehicle and handed him to rescuers. "He was very hot to the touch," Rosenblum said, and emergency personnel immediately began resuscitation efforts. Additional MDA crews and a mobile intensive care unit joined the response.
A young child uses a tablet in the back seat of a car (illustrative) (credit: INGIMAGE)
Senior MDA medic Haim Shavit and medic Yosef Yitzhak Sagiv reported the boy was unconscious, not breathing and without a pulse. Advanced life support measures, including chest compressions and ventilation, were performed en route to the hospital.
Investigation and Context
Officers from the Lod police station in the Shfela district opened an investigation to determine how the child came to be left inside the vehicle and to collect evidence. Authorities continue to interview family members and witnesses.
Data compiled by Beterem, Safe Kids Israel show that between 2021 and 2025, 23 children died after being left in vehicles. Another 53 children were injured and survived, while in 1,513 cases children were rescued in time and unharmed.
Safety Message
United Hatzalah emphasized that such tragedies can happen to loving, responsible caregivers and urged a simple precaution: "Before you leave your car, stop for one second and look in the back seat." Experts recommend leaving a personal item you will need (phone, handbag, shoes) in the back seat, placing a reminder in the passenger seat, or setting phone alerts to check the rear of the vehicle whenever you park.
Resources: Parents and caregivers can find prevention tips and resources at Beterem and Safe Kids Israel. If you encounter a child locked in a car, call emergency services immediately.
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