Emergency · No charge
Child or Pet Locked in a Car
Ring 911 first. Then ring us at (504) 506-2567. We come free. This is not a service we bill for.
Why we do not charge for this
There is a version of this job where a locksmith turns up, sees a family in obvious distress, opens the door in ninety seconds, hands over a bill for $135 and drives off. We are aware it happens. We do not want to be part of the reason someone hesitated before ringing.
So this one is not a service, it is a policy. No call-out. No labour. No hardware. Whatever the situation — baby seat, family dog, grandmother with dementia, whoever — the answer is come out, open the door, leave.
Please still ring 911 first. They are closer, they are quicker, and they are trained for the medical side. We are the backup, not the primary.
Time matters
How fast a Louisiana car turns dangerous
| Outside temperature | Interior after 10 min | Interior after 30 min |
|---|---|---|
| 75°F | 94°F | 109°F |
| 85°F | 104°F | 119°F |
| 90°F | 109°F | 124°F |
| 95°F | 114°F | 129°F |
These are National Weather Service figures for a closed car in still air. Kenner sits humid and often 90°F+ from June to September. A child under three or a pet cannot regulate temperature the way an adult can. Sustained interior temperatures above 105°F cause heat stroke — and heat stroke can be fatal at any age within about an hour.
Cracking a window makes almost no difference. The interior still reaches dangerous temperatures on the same curve. Do not use that as a reason to wait.
Warning signs
Signs of heat distress to watch for through the window
In a child
- Red or flushed face
- Skin that is hot to touch (through the window)
- No visible sweating
- Fussiness giving way to unusual calm or listlessness
- Vomiting
- Confusion or difficulty responding to their name
In a pet
- Heavy panting that suddenly stops
- Excessive drooling
- Bright red gums or tongue
- Weakness, staggering, collapse
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Seizures
If you see any of the later signs on either list, tell 911 straight away. This is when window-breaking becomes the right call.
Questions
Emergency questions
My child is locked in the car. What do I do first?
Ring 911. Then ring us at (504) 506-2567. In that order. Emergency services can be there in three or four minutes and are trained for this; we take longer because we have to drive to you. The fire service can force entry immediately if the child is in distress.
Do you charge for a child-in-car call?
No. We do not charge for it. There is no call-out fee, no service charge, no bill of any kind. This is the one thing we will not put a price on.
What about a pet in the car?
Same. Free. In a Louisiana July a closed car reaches temperatures that kill a dog inside 15 to 20 minutes.
How fast does the car get dangerous?
On an 85F day the interior of a closed car passes 100F within 10 minutes. On a Louisiana afternoon in July or August that curve is steeper. Do not wait to see how bad it gets.
Should I break the window myself?
If your child is unresponsive or the pet is in visible distress and emergency services have not arrived, breaking a rear side window with the corner of a rock or a spring-loaded window punch is a reasonable choice. Aim for a rear side window, not the windscreen or the window nearest the child. Better a broken window than the alternative.
Can I be arrested for leaving a child in a car in Louisiana?
You can. Louisiana has laws against leaving a child under six unattended in a vehicle. If you are in this situation right now that is not the issue — get the child out first, worry about the rest later.
What if a stranger’s child is locked in a car and I saw it?
Ring 911 first. In Louisiana civilian “good Samaritan” law provides some protection for breaking a window to rescue a child or animal in distress, but the exact language and conditions have changed and vary — the emergency services can make the call.
What do I do while I wait?
Keep the child calm through the window if you can. If it is hot, do not use the fob to try to run the AC — it usually will not, and it wastes attention. Watch for signs of heat distress: red face, no sweating, listlessness. Tell 911 if you see any of them.
Free. Every time. No exceptions.
Ring 911 first. Then ring us at (504) 506-2567.