SA’s first forecast 40C scorcher of summer comes with a warning

SA’s first forecast 40C scorcher of summer comes as new figures reveal a shocking surge in the number of young children and pets being left in hot cars.

Fynn and Maya cool off in the pool. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Vulnerable children and animals are being increasingly left in locked vehicles and exposed to “catastrophic” risk of serious injury or death during days of extreme heat.

As the state prepares for its first seasonal heatwave, The Advertiser can reveal the number of children and animals rescued from hot cars during summer has risen 77 per cent in six years.

RAA emergency call-out figures show 156 children and animals were freed from locked vehicles between December 2019 and February 2020, compared with 88 in the summer of 2014-15.

In one incident, police had to rescue a distressed baby left in a parked car at Gepps Cross on January 8 this year, when the temperature in Adelaide was 31.1C.

Latest RSPCA figures show it has responded to 1633 calls for animals, mostly dogs, locked in vehicles since 2015.

The animal welfare agency says it is alarmed at the failure of people to understand the vulnerability of pets.

Temperatures are expected to surpass 40C for much of the state on Friday and Saturday.

And while forecasters are expecting this summer to be cooler than the last, there will still be dangerous heatwaves.

“Heatwaves may not reach the extreme temperatures of recent years but may be longer duration and more humid, which can still have a significant impact on human health,” Bureau of Meteorology operational climate services boss Dr Andrew Watkins said.

“Daytime temperatures in summer are likely to be near average but there will be periods of high heat combined with milder periods.”

RAA road safety senior manager Charles Mountain said the temperature could reach up to 80C inside a car on a 40C day within 30 minutes of being parked in the sun.

“Children and pets are particularly vulnerable to heat stroke and dehydration if they’re left in a parked car, even if it’s just for a short period,’’ Mr Mountain said.

“Winding down the windows or parking in the shade doesn’t make that much difference either.”

Mr Mountain said anyone who had a child or animal locked in a vehicle was able to contact RAA roadside assistance patrols and did not need to be a member.

“We’ll ask the caller if emergency services are required and transfer them after their details are taken. We will drop everything to attend a child or animal locked in car,” he said.

The number of RAA annual emergency rescues has increased significantly from 404 in 2014 to 630 last year.

Kidsafe SA chief executive Holly Fitzgerald said leaving a child in a car on a moderate day for just a few minutes was “extremely dangerous”.

“It does not take long for that car to become pretty much an oven with an extreme temperature inside,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“The injuries and what can happen to a young child’s body in that time is extremely uncomfortable and can have a catastrophic outcome.”

Ms Fitzgerald said the temperature in a car “skyrocketed” in the first five minutes.

RSPCA SA spokeswoman Carolyn Jones said inspectors had found dogs panting heavily, drooling and lying in floor-wells – clear signs they were overheating.

She said dogs had died suffering in a hot car and “we do not understand why some people continue to allow this to happen”.

“It’s alarming that some people still don’t seem to understand how vulnerable dogs are when left in cars even in moderate temperatures,” Ms Jones said.

The RSPCA has responded has responded to 1633 calls for animals, mostly dogs, locked in vehicles since 2015. Picture: iStock

“Once again, the most common scenario reported to us this year is dogs left in cars while their owners are shopping, in some cases leaving their cars parked in full sun.

“It’s cruel, unnecessary and potentially deadly and we urge people again to leave dogs home with plenty of water and – if outdoors – shade and shelter throughout the day.”

An SA Ambulance spokeswoman said babies and children should never be left in stationary vehicles, which could become “very hot very quickly on days with elevated temperatures”.

“Babies and young children are very sensitive to hot weather, particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and may have difficulty regulating their body temperatures due to their age,” the spokeswoman said.

She said parents and caregivers should avoid taking them out in the hottest part of the day.

A police spokesman urged against leaving children or animals locked in vehicles at any time during hot weather because internal temperatures quickly increased to “dangerous levels”.

Anyone concerned for the welfare of a child or animal in a hot car should call the police assistance line on 131 444 or triple-0 in an emergency.

The RSPCA’s 24-hour animal cruelty hotline is 1300 477 722.