FAST FACTS: Car Seat Safety Tips

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue offers the following tips about child seat safety after three children died this year in South Florida after being left in a car. On a typical summer day, the temperature inside a car can rise above 120 degrees; on mild days it can reach 100 degrees. In 10 minutes, the temperature inside a car can rise 19 degrees. In 20 minutes, that temperature can rise 29 degrees.

Here are some tips to keep children safe:

1) Never leave your children in a car. Cars can heat up quickly, especially during the hot days of summer.
2) Always lock your car and store the keys in a location where your kids cannot get to them.
3) Install a trunk release mechanism, so kids don't get trapped there.
4) Prioritize. Get your children out of the car first when you get home, and then take anything else like groceries or your dry cleaning out of your vehicle.
5) When leaving your car, check to make sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children that have fallen asleep in the car.
6) Even if you leave a child in a car that is running with the air conditioning on, it does not mean that they are any safer. A child may accidently put the car into drive or get caught in a power window.
7) Bring your children with you when running errands, or use a drive-through if one is available.
8) Fire Rescue officials say one way to never forget a child in the car is the stuffed animal method. Place a stuffed animal in a visible location like the front seat when you have a child in the car. When you take the child out of the car, place the stuffed toy in the car seat. The visual will help remind you there is a child in the back.