Lives of hundreds of Victorian children placed in danger after being left in cars to swelter

HUNDREDS of Victorian children — on average four a day — have been placed in danger after being left to swelter in cars, with suburbs in Melbourne’s southeast ranked the worst.

THE lives of hundreds of Victorian children — on average four a day — have been endangered with the youngsters left to swelter in cars.

New data shows Ambulance Victoria fielded a staggering 1562 calls to rescue or treat kids left in cars last year.

Narre Warren and Pakenham, in Melbourne’s southeast, ranked as the worst suburbs with a combined 57 call outs.

Preston, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee followed with the next highest number of calls.

Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos said each call to Ambulance Victoria represented a loved son or daughter put at risk of death.

THIRTEEN KIDS RESCUED FROM HOT CARS IN ONE DAY DURING SCORCHING VICTORIAN WEATHER

Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos.

Eighty per cent of the children left in cars were toddlers last year.

One in five required medical treatment, including 15 who were taken to hospital.

“Hot cars kill — so there are no excuses, and no exceptions,” Ms Mikakos said.

“We know children are especially at risk because they lose fluids quicker, become dehydrated and can suffer life threatening heat stroke.

“It may seem challenging for busy parents, but every time you get out of the car — even briefly — you must take your kids with you.”

The temperature inside a car can more than double within minutes to be up to 30 degrees hotter than outside during summer.

Leaving a child in a car puts them at risk of life-threatening heatstroke, dehydration and organ damage because their temperature rises faster than an adults.

Almost 100 billboards warning of the dangers will run across Melbourne this summer.

Campaign ambassador and AFL legend Shane Crawford admitted that he had left his sons — Charlie, Ben and twins Jack and Harry — in the car on a cold day.

AFL legend Shane Crawford, with his 14-month-old toddlers, is warning parents about the dangers of leaving kids in hot cars. Picture: David Caird

“I didn’t know about how dangerous it can be but you are really risking your children’s lives,” he said.

“It might be easier to race into the store to grab the milk and grab the bread but you just can’t do it.

“What you think is only going to take a minute or two ends up taking five minutes and all of a sudden your kids could be dehydrated.”

Parents and carers face up to six months in jail if they break they law by leaving their child unattended in a car.

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