News and Investigations

“Every year too many kids die of heatstroke because they were left inside a car—often by accident. Our message is simple: Check your back seat: ‘stop, look, and listen.’ Let’s keep our kids safe!” - Grady Judd, Sheriff 

A public/private partnership between the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeland Police Department, Headley Insurance Agency, Nationwide Insurance, and Safe Kids Florida Suncoast has formed to bring awareness to the dangers of children being left in hot cars. A record number of 53 children died after being left in a hot vehicle in 2018 (Injury Facts, National Safety Council) in the United States. This number, along with poignant media stories of children left in a car by parents or caregivers, encouraged local business owner Scott Headley to start a program to remind parents and caregivers to get in the habit of checking their back seats for children.

On October 4, 2019, at “First Friday” in downtown Lakeland, from 6: 00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. the coalition partners will have displays set up; provide free giveaways, including free child check bracelets; and have activities for children, including free cookie decorating. There will also be a live demonstration to show how hot it can get inside of a car in short time periods—the demonstration will take place at 6:45 p.m. Representatives from Safe Kids Florida Suncoast will be available to discuss the dangers of heatstroke when children are left in hot cars. 

Representatives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeland Police Department will be on hand to interact with children and adults. The displays will be on the south end of Munn Park.

Free “Child Check Bracelets” will be given to parents at the First Friday event. The quality bracelets—neon green with red lettering “STOP, LOOK & LISTEN CHILD CHECK”—are designed to be a reminder for parents, childcare workers, and others to check their vehicle’s back seat. The bracelet should be placed in the back seat or in a car seat where a child is usually secured when not in use. When the child is buckled in or secured in a child seat, the bracelet should be placed on the parent’s or caregiver’s wrist as a reminder that a child is in the back seat. When the child is removed from the back seat or child seat, the bracelet should be placed back in the seat. Those who don’t have children can wear the bracelet to promote awareness about heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles.

We encourage everyone to stop by during their visit to First Friday on October 4 in downtown Lakeland between 6 and 9 pm. Also at First Friday will be a “cookie carnival” with nearly 20 cookie vendors, a classic car show, and live music. Click here for more information. 

We encourage media coverage of the live demonstration & the event in general to generate awareness about this serious issue—there will be plenty of access to quality interviews & great visuals.

Prevention information:

• In addition to child check bracelet, one simple precaution can be to leave a cell phone, shoe, purse, or other item you know you are not likely to forget in the backseat with your child. Make sure it is an item would definitely be missed if you left the car without it. 

• Always ask your child-care provider to call you if your child is not dropped off as usual (if someone else is taking your child to day-care). 

• Get in the habit of checking your back seat every time you get out of a car. Look before you lock! This is a great habit to get into for the safety of children and pets and it also helps prevent leaving valuable items in view on the back seat. 

• Consider technology that will help remind you there’s a child in the back seat, such as mobile apps, child seat alarms, rear seat reminders, etc. 
 
More information about heatstroke deaths of children in vehicles:

• According to livescience.com, studies have shown that “within 1 hour, the temperature inside of a car parked in the sun on a day that reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter, hit an average of 116 degrees F (47 degrees C). The cars' dashboards got even hotter, reaching 157 degrees, on average; the steering wheels climbed to a temperature of 127 degrees, on average; and the temperature of the seats hit 123 degrees, on average.” Even cars parked in the shade can reach dangerous temperatures in short periods of time. 

• 42 child deaths have been linked to child vehicular heatstroke so far this year—four of these have occurred in Florida: a 2-year-old died July 29 in Oakland Park, a 4-month-old died May 22 in Jacksonville, a 2-year-old died on April 10 in Perdido Key, and a 14-month-old died on April 4 in Melbourne. 

Media Contacts:

Carrie Horstman, Public Information Officer, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, chorstman@polksheriff.org; 863-298-6217, 863-255-8448;

Robin Tillett, Media Relations, Lakeland Police Department, robin.tillett@lakelandgov.net; 863-834-2963;
 
Scott J Headley, Headley Insurance Agency, LLC.; scott.headley@live.com; Office#(863)701-7411;

Beverly T. Powell; Business Operations Support Consultant; Nationwide Insurance; Southeastern Region; C 919-417-8922; Powellb2@nationwide.com;

Petra Vybiralova, MSW, CPSTI; Safe Kids Florida Suncoast Supervisor; Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital; Government, Corporate & Community Relations; P 727-767-8581; pvybira1@jhmi.edu.