Lessons from a locksmith: How to avoid locking your kids in the car, s post

If you are like most people, you probably have been locked out of your car at one point or another. Imagine just how frightening it would be if your child was locked inside.

As much as I pride myself on being a good parent, I have to admit that this happened to me. I had just finished shopping at Costco and was loading the groceries into the back of my vehicle. My son climbed into the back while I was dealing with the groceries. As I was closing the back hatch of the vehicle, I suddenly realized that my purse was sitting in the back of my car and that my keys were inside. It was too late, however, and I wound up locking my child inside. Fortunately, I was able to get help right away from a local locksmith.

Mornings are incredibly hectic in most households. There are countless tasks to take care of before you can get out the door and get on with your day. With so much going on, you may find that you are incredibly distracted. How many times have you shown up at your job only to realize that you left something important at home or that you forgot to do something before you left your house?

Distractions are a normal part of parenting. There are so many different situations that need to be dealt with at any given moment that it is hard to keep up with everything.

With so much going on, it is extremely easy to forget important things. Do you ever find yourself questioning whether you unplugged your curling iron after you left your house in the morning? Have you ever headed out the door only to realize that you forgot your diaper bag? Worst of all, have you ever accidentally locked your child in your car?

Although it may sound impossible, it is actually far easier than you might think. If and when you do mistakenly lock your child in your car, you need to contact a locksmith right away. The following tips will help you avoid making this common mistake.

Never leave your kids in the car alone. It is tempting to just run into a grocery store to grab what you need without making your kids get out and come in with you. In many states, however, you are required by law to take your children with you. If you never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, you don't have to worry about accidentally locking them inside.

Never let your child play with your keys or leave them in a place where they can access them. Most modern key fobs have a button that allows you to automatically lock or unlock the doors on your vehicle. If your child happens to hit this button, they can lock themselves inside. If nothing else, make sure that you have a spare set of keys handy all the time so that you can unlock your car doors if needed.

As a backup safety check, make sure that the person who cares for your child will contact you if your child happens to be absent. Although it may seem like you would never forget your child in the car, it is easier than you might think. Every year, parents throughout the country wind up devastated after forgetting that they have their child with them and leaving them in a hot car all day.

Get in the habit of looking at the car seat in your car every time you get out of your vehicle. You may want to put reminders in your car such as a note on your dashboard. That way, it will be easier for you to remember to check each time you get out of your car.

Finally, be sure to keep the phone number of a qualified locksmith with you at all times so that you can get help right away if you need it. If you’re in need of a locksmith local to Tampa, Florida check out America’s Lock and Key.