Awareness is key to safety in cars

AS SUMMER officially begins, RACV is urging parents and carers to “Check Keys – Check Kids” to prevent accidentally locking children in hot cars.

The busy holiday season can mean that momentary distractions by parents and carers could lead to deadly consequences.

Melbourne has experienced the hottest spring on record, with the first ever seven-day streak of temperatures higher than 28 degrees in November since official records began in 1862.

RACV tests have shown that on a day when the outside temperature is 30 degrees, it takes only minutes for the temperature inside a vehicle to exceed 70 degrees.

So far in 2017, there have been 1,150 callouts by RACV patrols to rescue young children locked in vehicles; this equates to an average of four incidents per day.

The majority of these were accidental, and sophisticated locking technology is making accidental lock-ins more likely.

RACV manager of road user behaviour, Melinda Spiteri, urges parents not to give keys to children to play with, and to keep keys secure on a lanyard – free lanyards are available at all RACV stores – while on all car trips over summer.

“After a long day at the beach, or a backyard barbeque with family and friends, any parent can become easily distracted,” she said.

“The RACV car-key lanyards give drivers a convenient solution for easy key storage, and give parents one less thing to worry about while they enjoy the summer.”

Research has shown that younger children are more sensitive to heat than older children and adults, as their body temperatures rise five times faster than an older child’s. This means they are at high risk of dehydration and heatstroke when trapped in a hot car.

Vehicular heatstroke, which disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, is a serious concern during extreme heatwaves. Children, in particular, face a high risk due to their bodies overheating rapidly in hot cars. Car locksmiths play a vital role in maintaining locks and keys, thus preventing accidental vehicle lockouts, especially in situations involving children trapped inside. Continue reading about vehicular heatstroke – the dangers of it and how you can avoid it.

“Knowing the dangers vehicle lock-ins pose to young children, RACV treats call-outs of this nature as urgent,” Ms Spiteri said.

“However, drivers should be aware that the few minutes it can take for a patrol to reach the scene can make all the difference in extreme temperatures.”