VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Emergency responders are on scene where two children were reportedly left inside a hot vehicle on Monday afternoon, the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) said.
Few details are available at the moment. VBPD said officers responded near the Food Lion at South Military Highway and Indian River Road, where the children were located. A spokesperson said the children have so far been reported to be OK, but the incident remains ongoing.
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According to the advocacy group Kids and Car Safety, a majority of parents who leave their children in cars do so unknowingly.
It's important that parents and guardians stay educated on how to prevent these types of tragedies. Here are some important tips:
- Make sure your child is never left alone in a car.
- Place the child’s diaper bag or item in the front passenger seat as a visual cue that you have the child in the car.
- Make it a habit of opening the back door every time you park to check.
- Ask your childcare provider to call you right away if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled.
- Announce and confirm who is getting each child out of the vehicle. Miscommunication can lead to mistakes.
- Make sure children cannot get into a parked car by themselves: be watchful of the keys and their location.