Locksmith offering free mechanical key to parents of infants

McNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn. — High temperatures and long summer days have one West Tennessee business offering parents peace of mind.

Locksmith Philip Hollingsworth spends his days opening locked cars. He said sometimes during the summer months he has to work faster than usual.

“If you accidentally locked your child in your car, it’d be a big disaster,” Tony Hulsey, a parent and grandfather, said.

As recently as three weeks ago, when temperatures were peaking in the 90s, Hollingsworth said he had to help unlock a car with a small child trapped inside.

“If you’ve got a toddler, infant in a car seat, you need two means of entering that vehicle at all times,” he said.

From now until the end of summer, Hollingsworth Locksmith Service is offering parents of infants a free mechanical key to use in emergencies.

“It’s a design to help keep that child from being locked without any other way in than to just bash the window in,” Hollingsworth said.

The McNairy locksmith said the mechanical key is not universal. It’s unique to your car. A basic copy costs about $2.50.

“Having that spare key would be a blessing. It would definitely save a lot of children’s lives,” parent Judy Grubbs said.

Mechanical keys can be picked up during normal business hours Monday through Friday at the Hollingsworth locksmith shops in Ramer and Savannah.

Parents must bring the infant child with them to the store to qualify for the offer.