ACT Policing and the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) have joined forces to warn parents about the dangers of leaving children unattended in parked vehicles.
The warning follows the rescue of a three-year-old from a hot car in Belconnen last week.
ACT Policing said a member of the public was able to remove the distressed and over-heated three-year-old from the unlocked car via the window.
Belconnen Patrol Sergeant David Wills said the outcome could have been much worse.
“Most Canberrans will be familiar with the dangers of leaving a child in a hot car, but it doesn’t take a 40-degree day for disaster to strike,” Sergeant Wills said.
“It was only about 25 degrees on Monday but the inside of a car sitting in the sun can reach critical temperatures in a matter of minutes,” he said.
Sergeant Wills said a young child could quickly dehydrate and lapse into unconsciousness with potentially fatal consequences.
Acting General Manager of Operations at ACT Ambulance Service, Rebecca Lundy said children were highly susceptible to the effects of heat and in an enclosed vehicle this could become dangerous rapidly.
“While it may be difficult to bring your child with you, leaving them behind in a car is potentially extremely dangerous,” Acting General Manager Lundy said.
“If a child is showing symptoms of dehydration or heat stress it’s important to seek immediate medical attention, cool them by applying cool, wet towels around the neck and underarms and if conscious, to give cool fluids (preferably water) to drink, as soon as possible,” she said.
ACT Policing reminded people that it’s an offence to knowingly or recklessly leave a child unattended in circumstances, or for a length of time, that could result in injury, sickness or other danger to the child.
