Toddler rescued from hot car during summer scorcher

A 20-month-old boy has been rescued from inside a hot car outside a shopping centre in Melbourne’s west today, with temperatures in the city forecast to reach 35C.

A toddler has been rescued from inside a hot car outside a shopping centre in Melbourne’s west today.

Emergency services were called to Derrimut Village Shopping Centre after reports a child was locked inside a hot car.

Firefighters had to force their way into the car to free the 20-month-old boy.

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Paramedics were also called to assess the child.

Fortunately he did not require medical treatment.

An MFB spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived on scene within five minutes and used a wedge door kit to get the child out quickly.”

It comes as authorities warn of the potentially fatal dangers of locking kids in cars, particularly over summer.

The outside temperature in Derrimut was predicted to exceed 31C today.

The temperature inside a vehicle can more than double within minutes in the heat, meaning anyone left inside can quickly experience extreme temperatures.

And children’s body temperatures rise up to five times faster than an adults.

This means they are a significantly greater risk of life-threatening conditions such as heatstroke, dehydration and organ damage.

Five children were rescued from hot cars on January 4, when the city sweltered through its hottest day in more than five years (42.6C).

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