Florida hot car checks belong before the quick errand

In Florida, “I will only be a minute” is not a safe car plan. Check the front and back seats every time, then lock the empty vehicle so a child cannot climb inside.

A parked vehicle can heat up quickly even when the air outside feels manageable. FLHSMV warns that the inside can rise about 20 degrees in 10 minutes. Cracking a window does not make the car safe for a child, vulnerable adult, or pet.

Use a routine that survives a busy morning. Put something needed at the destination beside the child seat, and ask for a confirmation when another adult handles drop-off. Keep keys away from children and check the vehicle first when a child is missing.

Florida law says a child younger than 6 may not be left unattended for more than 15 minutes. The child may not be left for any amount of time when the engine is running, the child’s health is in danger, or the child appears distressed. That legal ceiling is not a safe waiting period; the ordinary rule is to take the child with you.

If someone in a locked vehicle appears distressed, call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s directions. The best protection is the quiet seat check that happens before the door closes.