Fatal car trunk entrapment involving children--United States, 1987-1998

During July-August 1998, at least 11 U.S. children died in three separate incidents of car trunk entrapment. This report summarizes these three incidents, describes characteristics of car trunk entrapment incidents involving children since 1987, and reviews measures to prevent children from becoming trapped in car trunks. The findings indicate that at least nine incidents of fatal car trunk entrapment involving children occurred during 1987-1998, that all incidents occurred in hot weather and involved children aged < or =6 years, and that these deaths were preventable.