A Florida deputy rescued a 1-year-old trapped in a hot car by breaking the car window, despite initial protests from the child’s parents.
On Monday, May 20, deputies with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 9-1-1 call from a woman who said she had accidentally locked her daughter in their car at a Palm Coast Walmart, according to an FCSO release.
When deputies arrived, the man told them he put the child in the vehicle, went to the other side and found the doors locked and the keys locked. Their interaction was caught on the body camera of the responding officer, Deputy Harrison.
After learning that the girl had been in the car for 10 minutes and noticing that the child was “sweating” and “appeared to be in physical distress,” the deputy decided to break the window.
“How long was she in there?” Harrison asked the woman.
“About 10 minutes,” answered the woman.
“Then I’ll break the window,” he said.
“No, no, no,” protested the woman.
“I have to because it’s stuck there,” he replied. “I don’t know how long FD [Palm Coast Fire Department] is out. She was stuck there for 10 minutes.”
Prevent Death in a Hot Car: A Checklist for Parents
The woman then appeared to ask Harrison if he had a tool that wouldn’t require breaking a window, to which he replied, “No, I don’t have that.”
Deputy Harrison broke the window farthest from the girl using Shatterballs, cleared the remaining glass with his baton, then unlocked the car, the video shows.
The little girl was crying, but unharmed. She was evaluated by the Palm Cost Fire Department and “found to be fine, despite exposure to extreme heat,” according to the release.
A public affairs officer with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office tells PEOPLE that no charges have been filed at the time of the incident and that the Florida Department of Children and Families has been notified.
A Florida deputy rescued a 1-year-old from a hot car.
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office/X
“Thanks to the quick response of our deputies, this child was safely rescued and a tragic incident was avoided,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Although this was an accident, I would like to take this moment to remind parents of the dangers of leaving a child in a parked car at any time, especially if the ignition is not on. Heat stroke can happen very quickly, even if it doesn’t seem so hot outside .Remember, if there is a heartbeat, do not leave them in the car.
What to know about hot car deaths and how to avoid them
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According to NoHeatStroke.org, an average of 37 children under the age of 14 die each year in hot cars, and 100% of these deaths are preventable. The organization has recorded 969 pediatric deaths from heat stroke in cars since 1998.
Many newer vehicles now remind drivers to check their back seats before locking and leaving the car unattended.
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Source: HIS Education