TAMPA, Fla. -- Already this year in across the U.S., 29 kids have died after being left in a hot car. Florida is second only behind Texas in hot car deaths.
It’s a sad fact, but one that can so easily be avoided.
Tampa Fire and Rescue first responders showed what people can do if someone sees it happening to a child and what parents can do to hopefully avoid it in the first place. Still, the real problem is the fact children are being left in the car -- alone.
They're not quite sure what else can be said.
"I don’t know what else to do," Steve Smith said. "We show what happens and the losses these families have had… now we have to do this to tell everybody else that it’s OK for you to save the child."
If a child is left in a hot car and there's no one else around, there's no other way to get in -- other than breaking through.
"You just have to determine that the person inside is at risk of harm," Smith said. "Within reason, you can forcefully enter a vehicle."
Prevention still is key, and parents can be thrown in jail if determined they were neglectful.
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