Florida’s Grim Ranking in Child Hot Car Deaths

We all know that Florida has a reputation for its warm weather and scenic natural environment that makes it unique among other states in this country. Unfortunately, these same conditions are also responsible for another much more tragic reason why Florida is unique.

ABC’s WPTA News 21 recently reported that a 2-year-old little girl died in a hot car parked outside her Florida apartment as her 36-year-old mother was reportedly sleeping. Escambia County authorities attested that the little girl was reportedly in the car alone for almost ten hours before her mother awakened. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recorded a heat index of 82 degrees in Pensacola the day that this tragedy occurred. Sadly, this means that Florida has the grim honor of being the first state in 2019 in which a child has died from vehicular heatstroke.

What Are Ways to Be Proactive?

Out of all the reasons that children remain left in vehicles to suffer from the effects of excessive heat, perhaps the most common reason is that the caregiver simply forgot that the child was in the backseat. Whether it is typically the other parent who dropped the child off at daycare or the parent simply has a lot on his or her mind that day, no one wants to experience a tragic consequences that can result when a child is left in a hot car. Fortunately, there are things that anyone who cares for a child can do to help maximize the chances of minimizing a child’s hot car death. For example, caregivers can:

• Be mindful of keys. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 3 in 10 heatstroke deaths happen when an unattended child gains access to a vehicle.

• Place belongings strategically. Before you leave, place an essential belonging such as a purse, wallet, or work badge in the backseat next to the child such that you will have to look in the backseat in order to access it.

What Should You Do if You Witness a Child who is Unattended in a Car?

Even if it seems invasive, this is not a circumstance where you should turn your head and pretend that you did not see anything. After all, a child’s life is in jeopardy. If you see a child who is alone in a car you should immediately dial 911. Make sure that you engage the child through the window until authorities arrive to take over in order to help keep him or her alert. Stay on the phone until help arrives if possible and let the dispatcher know if you’re going to attempt to remove the child through a window.

Has Your Loved One Been Injured or Killed as the Result of Hot Car Exposure Because of Someone Else’s Negligence?

Whether it was a day care worker, nanny, or even a family member whose negligence caused your loved one’s injuries, there is a good chance that you are entitled to recover from the responsible parties. The South Florida personal injury attorneys of Leifer & Ramirez have helped many people pursue the compensation that they deserve during our 25 years of combined experience and we can help you hold the responsible parties responsible. Contact us today for help.

Resource:

wpta21.com/news/national-news-from-the-associated-press/2019/04/12/florida-mom-accused-when-daughter-2-dies-in-hot-car/

https://www.leiferlaw.com/preventing-accidental-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/