Have you ever locked your keys in the car? You must use extreme caution when traveling with your children or pets in the car. From car seats to safety harnesses and seat belts, you must be aware of safety whenever you travel in your vehicle. Leaving your pet or child in your car unattended is a terrible, and possibly fatal, occurrence. Even in cooler conditions, children or pets are not safe. If you leave your child or your pet in the car or if they get locked in accidentally, it can lead to severe consequences and death. You should know who to call when you are locked out of the car with kids or pets inside.

Consider the Dangers

How dangerous is it for children and pets inside cars? Many are surprised to discover the dire consequences of kids and pets getting locked in the car. You should always educate yourself on how to unlock the door.

Extreme Heat is a Killer

Children have died in cars with an outside temperature as low as 63 degrees. The inside of the car becomes like a greenhouse. Children can't produce as much sweat the way adults can, so they develop heatstroke much faster. If the temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit and it's sunny out, inside your vehicle it will be 104 degrees after 30 minutes and 113 degrees after 60 minutes. If the temperature is between 80 and 100 degrees and the car is in direct sunlight, the internal temperature of your passenger compartment can quickly skyrocket to between 130 and 172 degrees. It doesn't matter if the windows are partially open. The car's interior temperature can still rise about 40 degrees within an hour.

Heatstroke is Serious

Heatstroke can occur quickly in pets. Dogs and cats aren't able to sweat as humans can. They pant to lower their body temperature as they exhale hot air and inhale cooler air. Inside a car, panting does no good because they are essentially recycling hot air. Coma, permanent brain damage, organ dysfunction, and death can happen to dogs whose normal body temperature rises even a few degrees. It's crucial to never leave pets unattended in vehicles, especially during hot weather. If you see a pet trapped in a car, take immediate action by contacting local authorities or a locksmith service like Sevan Locks & Doors, who can quickly assist in unlocking the vehicle to rescue the distressed animal. Together, we can help prevent tragic incidents and protect the well-being of our furry friends.

How to Handle It When Kids or Pets are Locked In the Car

Of course, the best way to deal with locking or leaving a child or pet in the car is to prevent it from happening in the first place. It's important to develop safe habits like always checking the backseat before exiting the car, and never leaving children or pets unattended, even for a short period. By taking proactive measures and staying vigilant, we can help prevent tragic accidents and keep our loved ones safe.

Never Leave Them Alone

Don't leave your child unattended in the car under any circumstances. A pet may be able to handle this better, but a child shouldn't be left alone. A pet really shouldn't be either, if you can help it. Do not leave pets in the car if the temperature could cause them harm. If your child is old enough to be left in the car alone, then he or she is old enough to unlock the car from the inside. Parents of young children may wish that they could just run somewhere, but you can't leave a baby alone in the car.

SAFETY DEVICES

There are several devices available to help prevent children and pets from being accidentally locked in cars. These devices are designed to provide an added layer of safety and peace of mind for parents and pet owners. Some examples include:

1. Keyless Entry Systems: Keyless entry systems with safety features like proximity sensors or automatic locking mechanisms, can help prevent accidental lockouts. These systems may alert the driver if a child or pet is left unattended in the vehicle or automatically unlock the doors when the key fob is detected nearby.
2. Car Seat Alarms: Some car seat manufacturers offer car seat alarms that alert parents if a child is left unattended in the car seat after the vehicle is turned off. These alarms may sound an audible alert or send a notification to a smartphone app to remind parents to check the back seat before exiting the vehicle.
3. Pet Safety Alerts: There are also pet safety devices available that can alert pet owners if the temperature inside the vehicle exceeds a certain threshold. These devices may send notifications to a smartphone app or sound an audible alarm to warn pet owners of potentially dangerous conditions.

Accidents Happen – What to Do

If a child does get locked inside of a car, try to calm your youngster. Talk to him or her through the window and assess the mood of your child. Then, calmly look for your keys. It is difficult to lock keys in cars with the way manufacturers design cars now, but it could happen. You may have lost your keys. If you can't find your keys, call a locksmith no matter the cost, if your child appears to be calm and in no immediate danger. If your child isn’t calm, call 911 and cover the windows to keep the car from heating up further. If your child starts to get anxious or hot and begins to panic, don't wait for the locksmith. Break the window furthest from your child as a last resort. If your youngster starts to get hysterical, you need to get in the car right away.

What About Someone Else’s Child or Pet?

It can be extremely stressful to observe the children or pets of someone else getting locked in the car. Educating others about the dangers of leaving children or pets unattended in vehicles and encouraging the use of keyless entry systems with safety features can help prevent incidents from occurring in the future. By working together as a community to raise awareness and promote responsible behavior, we can help ensure the safety and well-being of all. Remember, time is of the essence in these situations, so always act quickly and responsibly to rescue those in need.

What can you do if someone has locked their keys in the car?

Get Help

For a child, call for help immediately and have someone look for the parents. If you can't find the parents, call 911 to report the incident. Try to calm the child and break the glass if the police advise you to. For a pet, gather information about the car and the license plate number. Next, notify other people in the nearest building. Have them page the owner of the car. Go back out and wait by the car to monitor the pet. If the owner doesn't do anything or doesn't appear, call animal control. Time is of the essence, so if animal control is unable to come immediately, call 911. You don't want to leave the animal in danger longer than necessary.

When it comes to your car and your family, whether it be a child or a pet, you need to be responsible. Don't assume that your quick trip to the grocery store can be done without consequences. Things can happen so quickly and you don't want to endanger your child or pet. Be aware of your surroundings. Take note if there is a child or pet in a car unattended. You could save a life by simply paying attention and taking action to find the owner of the vehicle

Contact Us Today!

Thank you for reading our blog! Are you searching for a locksmith service near you? Look no further than Sevan Locks & Doors for all your locksmith and door security needs. We are a family owned and operated locksmith, security and garage door company. Having a professional company you can trust is vital to the security and safety of your home, business, or vehicle.

Whether you're looking to upgrade to bump-proof locks, install a keyless entry system, or reinforce your door security, we've got you covered. Our expert team is dedicated to providing top-notch service and personalized solutions to ensure the safety and security of your home or business. Contact us today to learn more about how our fast response times and reasonable rates can help you enhance your security and gain peace of mind.