Never leave kids in cars

The Victorian state government has launched a new safety campaign to educate motorists about the risks involved in leaving children in cars on sunny days.

According to figures released by Ambulance Victoria, paramedics were called out to 225 incidents in December 2015, which is up from 161 the previous year.

In other words, the message isn't getting through to parents and guardians that leaving kids in cars can kill them.

The #Neverleavekidsincars campaign features TV personality and mother of two, Rebecca Judd, who stated: "I'm joining the pledge to never leave kids in cars, and I'm asking you to join me too."

The campaign urges the public to get on board via social media using twitter and other platforms to help spread the message that the inside of a car will often overheat by 20 to 30 degrees above the outside temperature.

Therefore, even on a 20 degree day, the inside of a car could reach 50 degrees, and it's scary to think about how hot cars can be on a 35 or 40 degree day.

Just yesterday (January 12), a mild day, Ambulance Victoria revealed that paramedics were called out to four cases of kids being left in cars, and only one was accidental.

Experts warn that the bodies of young children are far less capable of dealing with temperature extremes than adults, with kids' body temperatures "rising three to five times faster than an adults" according to the press statement. This can then lead to dehydration, organ damage and potentially fatal heatstroke.

The Victorian Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos, said: "When you leave your child in a car, you are putting them at risk of serious injury or death."

"If you are travelling with a child and you need to get out of the car – even for just a moment – make sure you take your child or children with you. No exceptions, no excuses."

In Victoria, it is against the law to leave children unattended in a car. Parents or carers could face fines of nearly $3700 or up to six months' jail, or both.

The Andrews Labor government and Kidsafe are working together to increase parents' and carers' awareness of the dangers of leaving children in parked cars with the No Exceptions, No Excuses campaign.

Despite recent heat warnings, severe penalties and record-breaking summer temperatures, children are still being left unattended in parked cars, putting them at risk of serious heat-related injury or death.

Since releasing annual figures in December, Ambulance Victoria has revealed that Victorian paramedics were called to 225 cases of children left in cars during December 2015 – up from 161 the year before.

On one of the busiest days – which saw the temperature reach 37 degrees – Victorian paramedics responded to 13 call outs to children left in cars.

Acting Premier James Merlino today joined Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos and campaign ambassador Rebecca Judd at The Glen shopping centre in Glen Waverley to highlight the dangers of leaving kids in cars.