Tips for child safety and locked cars

Homewood Fire Department urges parents to adopt the suggestions below to avoide tragedies involving children being left in locked vehicles.

Make arrangements with daycare/sitter who you will always contact you if you are late in dropping off the child or if the child is not be dropped off on a scheduled day.

If you are more than 10 minutes late in dropping off the child in daycare, have as a standard procedure for the daycare/sitter to immediately telephone you and inquire of the child’s status. 

Put something you’ll need like your cell phone, handbag, laptop computer, briefcase or employee ID in the rear seat so that you will have to access the rear door when leaving the car.

Keep a large stuffed animal in the child’s car seat when it is not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the stuffed animal in the front passenger seat. The animal serves as a visual reminder that anytime the stuffed animal is up front you know the child is in the back seat.

Get in the habit of looking before you lock. Always open the rear door and make sure no child has been left behind before walking away from the car. 

Never leave children alone in car or around an unlocked car.

Keep vehicles locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway. Always set the parking brake.

Keys and/or remote openers should never be left within reach of children.

Use drive-thru services when available for restaurants, banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, etc.

Use your debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump instead of walking into the gas station to pay.

Install a “hide-a-key” device on your car so that you can quickly access the car if the keys are accidentally locked within the car with the child.

When a child is missing, check vehicles and car trunks immediately.

If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. Call 911 to get help. Every second counts.

If you must break glass to access the child (car windows can be difficult to break without proper tools and techniques), do the following:

Break the driver’s side glass.

Invest in a specialty rescue product like a Res-Q-Me Car Escape Tool, Swiss-Tech BodyGard, LifeHammer, or Life + Gear LG403com Emergency Tool.

If a rescue tool is unavailable, use the point of a tire iron or large flathead screwdriver to strike the driver’s window very hard in the lower right corner.

The glass will shatter into cubes and remain in place. Wrap your hand in clothing to push away the broken glass. 

Visit kidsandcars.org to learn more on how to protect your child.

-Submitted by Homewood Fire Department