Safe Kids Palm Beach County launches Hot Car Prevention outreach, cites Aria’s Act and recent child fatality

Kathy Wall, director of Safe Kids, Palm Beach County, told listeners that the program is marking Hot Car Prevention Month in Florida and is conducting outreach, distributing car seats and bike helmets, and providing safety education to families.

Wall said the Florida initiative begins in April (earlier than the national campaign in May) because of Aria’s Act, named after a 10-month-old who died in Baker County in 2023 after being left in a vehicle for more than five hours. She cited a series of statistics in the presentation: that 113 Florida children have died in hot cars since 2001 and that the state recorded child hot-car fatalities in multiple recent years; the presentation also noted that, as of the program’s remarks, 2026 had recorded the first hot-car-related child death.

Safe Kids Palm Beach County said it provides car seats and helmets to families and offers education at schools and community events. Wall listed recent outreach including visits to Koele Lake Elementary and Jupiter High School, presentations to the League of Women Voters, and ethics training for a county advisory committee; she encouraged community partners to help raise awareness during the prevention month.

The presentation emphasized prevention activities and community resources rather than new legislation or enforcement; Wall framed the campaign as a community-based safety program funded in part by the Children’s Services Council and delivered through local partners. The remarks concluded with an appeal to the public to use available resources and watch children in vehicles, particularly during the hot months.

Safe Kids announced local events and distribution efforts tied to the campaign but specific dates for future events beyond recent outreach were not specified in the record.