‘Not on’: Hot-car rescues trigger urgent warning to families

Ambulance Victoria has issued an urgent warning to families after paramedics responded to 11 cases of children locked inside cars across the state on Saturday as temperatures soared above 40C.

One of the incidents was in the Barwon South West region.

The spike in callouts comes as Victoria enters a prolonged and dangerous heatwave, with temperatures forecast to again climb above 40C in parts of the state on Tuesday.

Ambulance Victoria director of emergency management, Dale Armstrong, said the incidents were deeply concerning and served as a stark warning ahead of more extreme heat.

“Hot cars can kill,” he said.

“We are urging Victorians to heed this advice – it is never safe to leave children or older people unattended in vehicles, in any weather, but particularly when we know that our state is facing days of heatwave conditions.

“The temperature inside a vehicle can double and become deadly within minutes.

“It is particularly dangerous for children to be left inside vehicles, as a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult.”

He urged the community to remain vigilant, always take children with them, always keep car keys on their person and to never assume a quick stop is safe.

“Even on the mild summer days, inside a car can be up to 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the ambient temperature outside,” he said.

Armstrong said the spike in callouts was especially confronting given the extensive public warnings issued ahead of the forecast heat.

“The message is simple – it is never safe to leave children in cars unattended,” he said on Sunday.

“One call-out to a child locked in a car on a day like yesterday is too many – 11 is just ‘not on’.

“We know that accidents can happen, and often this is not intentional, but it is still potentially fatal.”

Speaking from the State Control Centre on Sunday, Victoria’s Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said the state was facing its most significant heatwave since 2009.

“We haven’t seen heatwave conditions like this in Victoria for almost 20 years,” he said.

“It was 2009, ahead of the bushfires, where we saw those prevailing conditions, and so we are indicating to all Victorians that this is a very serious set of weather conditions as it relates to human health.”

Victorians are encouraged to take preventative steps in the coming days to avoid illnesses such as heat stroke.

The elderly, the young, the pregnant and those will medical conditions are at the greatest risk.

“Remain hydrated. Drink plenty of water. Be cautious with alcohol, with a preference to avoid alcohol, if possible,” Armstrong said.

“Keep cool. Clear the use of air conditioning and fans, but also [take] cool showers and go to cool locations such as libraries, leisure centres and shopping centres.

“Wear a hat and sunscreen. Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day and plan your strenuous activity so you avoid the heat.”

If anyone is accidentally locked inside a vehicle, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.