New Florida gas pump stickers drive home message about dangers of hot cars for kids, pets

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

It's dangerously hot in Florida this summer and inside a car, that heat can be deadly for the most vulnerable among us.

To drive home the message of protecting children and animals from the dangers of sweltering vehicles, a new statewide vehicular heatstroke prevention initiative was announced Friday by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson at a Titusville press conference.

New inspection stickers are going up on gas pumps across Florida, each bearing the message "Never leave children or pets in a hot car," Simpson said, with the first sticker being placed on a pump at the BP gas station on U.S. 1 in Titusville.

More: 'Dog days' of summer take a bite out of Indian River Lagoon fish in Malabar

Florida leads the nation in child vehicular heatstroke fatalities, with five children betwen 11 months and 2 years old including a child in Brevard County dying in the state as of July 19.

Accordingly, these new stickers stress the importance of parents and caregivers’ role in preventing such deaths, said Simpson, who was joined by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Southeast Petro President Summit Shah as that first sticker was placed.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson was in Titusville Friday morning at the BP gas station on U.S. 1 with Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Southeast Petro President Summit Shah for a press conference announcing new inspection seals on gas pumps statwide. The stickers bear a safety warning “Never leave children or pets in a hot car." They put the first new sticker on a gas pump at the station.

'With daily routines changing for children heading back to school coupled with the still very present summer heat, it is imperative for parents and caregivers to be vigilant to protect their precious cargo,” Simpson said in a statement announcing the initiative.

“Our FDACS inspectors work hard each day to ensure that fuel pumps are working safely and properly for consumers across our state, which is visibly present every time you visit a gas pump and see the 'Inspected and Approved for Accuracy' sticker. I am proud to add this important safety message to the nearly 75,000 fuel inspection stickers across Florida to protect the vulnerable.”

The new safety seals on Florida gas pumps replace the seals from former agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried.
The new safety seals on Florida gas pumps replace the seals from former agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried.

The number of hot car deaths involving children in 2022 was 33, according to the National Safety Council. On average, 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle.

On May 28, a day that hit 85 degrees, an 11-month-old infant died after being left in a car for hours in the hot sun while the parents attended a service at the Palm Bay church where they are co-pastors. The mother was charged in the infant's death.

Other children died this year in:

  • Port St. Lucie. March 6, 2-year-old boy. Outside temperature 84.

  • Prosperity. May 16, 2-year-old girl. Outside temperature 92.

  • Orange City. June 8. 2-year-old girl. Outside temperature 91.

  • Lakeland. July 5. 18-month-old girl. Outside temperature 93.

“I want to thank Commissioner Simpson for championing this great idea. If you show me a problem in society, I’ll show you where education and awareness are part of the solution,” Sheriff Ivey said in a statement.

“This is an education and awareness campaign ... to remind parents and pet owners to not leave their children or pets in a hot car. Don’t leave them unattended – in a split second something could go wrong.”

Some tips on vehicular heatstroke prevention:

  • Never leave children, vulnerable adults, or pets unattended in a vehicle – even for a short period of time.

  • If you see a child, vulnerable adult, or pet locked in a hot car, take immediate action by calling 911.

  • Always check the back seat before leaving and locking your vehicle.

  • Florida law, section 768.139, Florida Statutes, provides for the rescue of a vulnerable person or domestic animal from a motor vehicle. These good Samaritans may have immunity for damage to the motor vehicle if:

    • The vehicle is locked and there is no other reasonable way the person or animal to get out.

    • Has reasonable belief based upon the circumstances that entry is necessary because the person or animal is in imminent danger.

    • Notifies law enforcement or calls 911 prior to or immediately after entering the vehicle.

    • Uses no more force than is necessary.

    • Remains with the person or animal until law enforcement or other first responder arrives.

Britt Kennerly is education/breaking news editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Kennerly at 321-917-4744 or bkennerly@floridatoday.comTwitter: @bybrittkennerly Facebook: /bybrittkennerly.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida gas pump stickers drive home message about dangers of hot cars