Cars are stolen with kids inside more often than you think. Here's how to stay safe
An alert was issued throughout Pensacola on Tuesday evening that would stop anyone in their tracks: an Amber alert for a missing 5-year-old girl last seen with a 23-year-old woman who police believed to be armed.
The child, Isobel Battese, was fortunately located in the abandoned car after the alert went out, but the incident was a strong reminder of the dangers of leaving children unattended in a vehicle even for a moment.
Children being kidnapped during carjackings happens more frequently than most might think, according to Kids and Cars Safety, an organization dedicated to bringing awareness and policy changes around the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles.
Suspect arrested: ECSO arrests suspect accused of stealing vehicle with 5-year-old girl inside
Battese was the ninth child to be inadvertently kidnapped during a carjacking in Florida this year, and data shows there have been at least 139 kids left in vehicles that were stolen across the country, according to Kids and Cars.
Here’s what to know about the dangers of leaving a child unattended in a car and how you can safeguard your family.
Young children can suffer from life-threatening heatstroke symptoms within minutes
Florida is typically at the top of the list for hot car deaths, and with record-breaking temperatures year after year, it’s even more vital to put safeguards into place to prevent them from happening.
The inside of a vehicle acts like a greenhouse, trapping heat that can cause temperatures inside cars to rise quickly. Cracking a window isn’t enough to reduce these effects, which are compounded by the fact that a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult, according to Kids and Cars.
Vehicles are stolen with children alone inside every week
Even in the safest neighborhoods, it can take only seconds for someone to jump into a vehicle and take off with a child left unattended inside.
Thousands of children are injured by power windows
It takes 22 pounds of force to suffocate or injure an infant and power windows can exert between 30-80 pounds of force when rolling up. A curious child could inadvertently roll themself up without realizing the dangers of what could happen.
Florida hot car deaths: Florida has the most hot car deaths in the US. Here's what you need to know
Hundreds of kids are injured or killed after accidentally setting a car into motion
While newer cars typically can’t be shifted into gear without a foot on the brake, older cars can.
Safety tips to help keep kids safe around vehicles
Never leave children alone in or around cars.
If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. Call 911 immediately. If the child is in distress, get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.
Use drive-thru services when available and pay for gas at the pump. If you order take-out, ask them to bring the food out to your car.
Never leave a vehicle unattended with the engine running under any circumstances.
Do not put children or adults inside a vehicle with the engine running while clearing snow or ice off the vehicle. Always clear the tailpipe first to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Keep car keys and remote openers out of reach of children and keep vehicles locked at all times — even when the vehicle is in the driveway or garage.
Always set your emergency brake when your vehicle is parked.
In any state, a person can face child endangerment or neglect charges for leaving a child alone in a vehicle. In Florida, it is illegal to leave a child unattended in a vehicle for more than 15 minutes while the car is running, while the child is in distress or when the health of the child is in danger.
Cars stolen with a child alone inside by year
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida kids are kidnapped in carjackings more often than you think
