As scary as it seems, even the best parents can become distracted at times and leave a child behind in their vehicle.
As many parents with busy schedules are aware, rushing from appointment to appointment can leave you feeling scattered and you may do things completely out of character. For those who reside in Florida during the summer, this is a mistake that you cannot afford to make. The temperatures inside your vehicle when parked in the hot sun can skyrocket by almost 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. When average temperatures are in the mid to upper-90s, we are talking into the 100s, which is a deadly environment for a child.
Even though you may think this could never happen to you, 38 children die from heatstroke each year according to the advocacy site KidsAndKars.org. We encourage you to become familiar with the five tips below to ensure you protect your children at all times and never run the risk of leaving a child behind in a hot car.
Tips to Keep Your Child Safe From Hot Vehicles:
- Make it a habit to look around the front and back of your car each time you park somewhere before you lock your vehicle.
- Place a key item in the backseat of your car that you will not leave without, such as your phone, purse, briefcase, etc.
- Work with your child’s daycare facility and put a system in place that requires they reach out to you any time your child is not dropped off at the scheduled time.
- Keep your vehicles locked at all times, even when parked in the garage (see here for options) or driveway, to prevent children from entering the vehicle without you knowing.
- Contact 911 immediately if your child or another child you see has been left unattended in a hot car.
Further, it is illegal in Florida to leave a child under the age of 6 unattended or unsupervised for more than 15 minutes.
If you have questions about the content of this article, please contact TJ Grimaldi at McIntyre Thanasides Bringgold Elliott Grimaldi & Guito, P.A. today.
TJ Grimaldi joined McIntyre in 2011. McIntyre recruited TJ to create the divisions of personal injury and family law, as well as to expand the existing criminal defense practice at the firm. During TJ’s tenure at McIntyre, he has helped oversee and grow these practice areas. He continues to practice in these divisions while also expanding his own practice areas to include estate planning and immigration law. TJ is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.
