Kidsafe issue warning about leaving kids in cars:

Parents are being reminded of the deadly risk of leaving children unattended in cars on hot days.

The warning comes from Kidsafe Victoria as seven to twelve children have been found locked in cars each day since 3rd January when temperatures exceeded 40 degrees in Melbourne.  

Robert Caulfield, President of Kidsafe Victoria, said, ”Leaving children unattended in a car, even for a short period of time, can be fatal. On a typical Australian summer day, the temperature inside a parked car can be 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the outside temperature."

“Despite the Kids in Hot Cars issue being run for a number of years, it is staggering to think Ambulance Victoria Paramedics were called to more than 900 cases of children locked in cars in 12 months.

“Almost two thirds of calls were to car parks, streets or public places, and nearly one quarter to outside a home.”

Mr Caulfield noted that children’s smaller body size and underdeveloped nervous system placed them at greater risk of losing fluid quickly, becoming dehydrated and suffering from heatstroke.

"The action which can save a child from death or serious brain damage is to take the children with you, even if you think you will only be gone for a few minutes. “

“The simple fact is hot days are dangerous, especially for young children and the elderly.”