Saturday January, 24 2026 @ 11:42

Nature: Citizen Assist – Child Locked In Vehicle

Location: Harris Teeter (80)

Address:  26370 Bay Farm Rd Millsboro, DE 19966

On Saturday, January 24th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a citizen’s assist type service call at the Back Bay Shopping Center near Harris Teeter..  It was reported to be a child vehicle in a not vehicle.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Utility 80-11 from the Oak Orchard facility and Command 80 and Brush 80 from the Long Neck facility.

The occupants had been grocery shopping, placed the child in the car seat due to the weather conditions and was unloading groceries when the realized that the keys were also placed in the truck with the groceries.

Crews were able to open the vehicle and all units were authorized to return to their respective quarters.

Safety message…

If a child is locked inside a vehicle, it is crucial to act quickly and call emergency services for assistance, as this situation can quickly become life-threatening.

Immediate Steps to Take:

Call Emergency Services: Dial 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Inform them that a child is locked inside a vehicle, as this is considered an emergency situation.

Stay Calm and Assess the Situation: While waiting for help, try to remain calm. If the child is old enough to understand, talk to them through the window to reassure them that help is on the way.

Avoid Breaking Windows Unless Necessary: If the child is in distress and help is delayed, breaking a window may be necessary. However, this should be a last resort. If you must break a window, choose one that is farthest from the child and cover it with clothing to minimize injury from glass shards.