A three-year-old boy in Florida has tragically died after being left for hours inside of a hot car.
As reported by CBS News, police has said that the boy was left inside of a car that was parked outside of the Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami Gardens, where both of his parents are staff members.
The Miami Herald reports that police say the child spent as long as six hours in the vehicle, with temperates in Miami reaching 93 degrees on Monday, with the heat index being 103.
Authorities believe the unnamed father had been driving the vehicle and accidentally left his son locked inside the car early Monday as the family made their way into the school at 17330 NW Seventh Ave.
More on this story below:The toddler - who has also not been named - was one of several children from the same family to attend the center.
A source revealed that the father rushed to the car at approximately 3:00PM after somebody at the school told him that they hadn't seen his son all day.
After finding his son unresponsive, the three-year-old was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead by doctors.
It has been reported that the father has been interviewed by Miami Gardens Police in an effort to determine whether the child's death was an accident.
Credit: GooglePer CBS News, Rabbi Benzion Korf, the educational center's dean, said in a brief statement: "This tragedy hits close to home, and many in our school community have been affected by it. No words can capture the heartbreak and sadness we feel."
Korf added that a therapist and grief counselor will be made available to staff and students.
Per The New York Post, advocacy organization Kids and Car Safety states that an average of 38 kids die in the US each year due to being left in hot cars.
The safety group's records show that in 56% of deaths, the child is left in the vehicle by accident and that the vast majority (87%) of children who die are three years or younger.
Hot vehicle deaths are predominantly caused by heatstroke or hyperthermia, which occurs when the body overheats and can't cool down. According to experts, young children are particularly susceptible because their bodies overheat three to five times faster than an adult would, meaning irreversible damage can occur within minutes.
Experts warn that even with an open window, the temperature inside a car can rise very fast, hitting 125 degrees Fahrenheit within minutes.
Advocates like those at Kids and Car Safety advise parents to ensure their vehicles are locked at all times so that their children cannot accidentally lock themselves inside. Another key habit is checking the backseat every time you exit the vehicle. Experts suggest leaving a key item such as a wallet or set of keys on the backseat so that you're forced to double-check the area whenever you get out of your vehicle.
Our thoughts go out to anybody affected by this horrible tragedy.
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