It is never okay to leave kids or pets in a car – even with a window 
open. There is no safe amount of time to leave children alone in the car. Even just a few minutes can prove fatal. In less than 30 minutes, the temperature inside a car can increase 35 degrees. An infant can die in as little as 15 minutes even on a mild 75-degree day.
Haile’s Law bill sponsors have decided after two years of sponsoring, not to file it for the upcoming legislative session in March. We think this is such a travesty. The proposed law would require that child safety alarms be installed in all commercial which transport children.
Since 2007, 24 children have died from heat stroke in cars or vans in Florida. Of those incidents, 10 took place in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties. Since 1998 there have been approximately 527 preventable tragedies nationwide according to KidsAndCars.org. More than half of the deaths occur in children under the age of 2.
Common causes of these needless tragedies include the child being forgotten by a caregiver, a child playing in an unattended vehicle, or a child intentionally left in vehicle.
KidsAndCars.org recommends the following memory tips to keep your kids safe:
Back seat – Put something in the back seat so you have to open the door when leaving the vehicle – cell phone, handbag, etc.
Every child should be correctly restrained in the back seat.
Stuffed animal – Move it from the car seat to the front seat to remind you when your baby is in the back seat.
Ask your babysitter or child-care provider to call you within 10 minutes if your child hasn’t arrived on time.
Focus on driving – Avoid cell phone calls and texting while driving.
Every time you park your vehicle open the back door to make sure no one has been left behind.
Parents should be on alert for cars that might have an unattended child left inside. If you see a child alone in a car, be sure to call 911 and help make sure the child gets out as soon as possible.
We strongly encourage you to contact your Legislator at http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find and urge them to take action on this very important issue.
