WEATHER IN YOUR AREA. AN 11 MONTH OLD IS DEAD AFTER POLICE SAY HER PARENTS ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE GIRL IN THE CAR WHEN THEY WENT TO CHURCH. THIS HAPPENED SUNDAY IN PALM BAY WEST. OUR BUREAU CHIEF SCOTT HEIDLER SPOKE WITH POLICE AND EXPERTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND HOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE DURING THE SUMMER. THE CALL CAME IN TO POLICE AROUND 1 P.M. SUNDAY, THEN UNRESPONSIVE 11 MONTH OLD AT THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. EVANGELII KALEB BAPTIST CHURCH ON BABCOCK STREET IN PALM BAY. ACCORDING TO POLICE, SHE HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE VEHICLE FOR AROUND 3 HOURS WHILE THE PARENTS ATTENDED CHURCH. PALM BAY POLICE IN A STATEMENT SAYING THAT ONE OFFICERS ARRIVED, THE BABY WAS IN A VEHICLE UNRESPONSIVE AND TRANSPORTED TO PALM BAY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, WHERE SHE WAS PRONOUNCECED DEAD. PALM BAY POLICE CHIEF MARIO ARGUELLO QUOTED. THIS IS AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT AND OUR CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY WHILE THEY INVESTIGATE ON EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE ON PALM BAY IS ONGOING. IT'S GOOD FOR ALL PARENTS TO BE REMINDED OF HOW TO KEEP THEIR FAMILY SAFE, AS FLORIDA IS THE NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION FOR CHILD HOT CAR DEATHS. THAT ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION KIDS IN CARS, CARS CAN HEAT UP VERY QUICKLY AND ALL YEAR ROUND. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU COULD HAVE A HEAT STROKE DEATH IN A CAR WHEN IT'S 60 DEGREES OUT BECAUSE OF HOW QUICKLY THE CAR CAN HEAT UP. AND IT'S LIKE A GREENHOUSE. EVEN CRACKING A WINDOW DOES NOT DO MUCH GOOD IF A CHILD GETS TO BE CLOSE TO 104 DEGREES, THAT'S WHEN THEIR TEMPERATURE CAN CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS. AND YOU START TO SEE HEAT STROKE ABOVE 107 DEGREES. WE SEE DEATH. WAYS TO STAY SAFE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS. ALWAYS KEEP SOMETHING IN THE KIDS CAR SEAT. MOVE IT UP FRONT. WHEN YOU PUT THEM IN. THAT CAN BE A TEDDY BEAR OR TOY. THAT WAY YOU'LL BE REMINDED THAT THEY'RE BACK THERE. PUT SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN THE SEAT WITH YOUR CHILD. SOMETHING YOU WILL MISS. YOUR PHONE. A WORK I.D., BADGE, CAR PROGRAM WITH DAYCARE. SET IT UP SO THAT THE DAYCARE WILL CALL YOU IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT DROPPED OFF. NATIONALLY, ABOUT 30 CHILDREN ARE LOST TO HOT CAR THEFTS EACH YEAR. THERE'S CONCERN THAT AFTER A DIP DURING COVID THIS SUMMER MIGHT SEE THOSE NUMBERS
