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Florida has the second most child deaths from being left in a hot car. As Matt Galka tells us, a recent string of national incidents has prompted the state to issue a warning.

DCF has released this public service announcement warning about the dangers of leaving a toddler in the back seat of a car baking in the Florida sun.

“A child’s internal temperature raises five times faster than adults,” said Michelle Glady, the Departments Press Secretary.

Florida has had 66 child heatstroke deaths since 1998 – trailing only Texas.

A typical Florida summer day can bring plenty of flash rain storms. Lieutenant Mike Bellamy with the Tallahassee Fire Department says that doesn’t make things any safer for toddlers.

“There’s never a right place, there’s never a right time to leave any child in a car,” said Lt. Bellamy.

We gave the car a heat check while a thunderstorm was going on outside. Vitals were normal before entering the car when the temperature was around 85 degrees.

Two minutes in and the care was up to 99 degrees. After four minutes: 104 degrees. Six minutes and we were cooking at 111 degrees. That’s when fire officials had to call it.

Another check of vitals revealed heart rate and blood pressure were both elevated.

In the past week alone, 5 kids locked in hot cars have been reported to DCF.   The department says if you feel like you’re going to forget your child in the backseat, leave something like your shoe, cell phone, or brief case with them so you’ll be sure to check before leaving the vehicle.