Paramedics have been called to more than 70 cases of children locked in cars in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs since the start of the year.
Ambulance Victoria’s group manager Brett Drummond says paramedics are frustrated that parents aren’t heeding the message about the dangers of leaving children in cars.
“There’s been a significant amount of media coverage this summer to warn against the dangers of leaving children in cars,” Mr Drummond said.
“Despite that, people are still wanting to gamble with their children’s lives.”
Since January 1, Ambulance Victoria has received 73 calls to attend to incidents in the northern and western suburbs.
This is despite a recent move by the state government to increase the penalties for leaving a child unattended in a car.
The new laws have increased the fine to $2165 or up to three months’ imprisonment.
When a call is made to triple-0 about a child locked in a car, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade personnel often all attend. But the task of smashing a car window is left to the MFB.
MFB northern district commander Gary Cronin said nine out of 10 cases he attended were accidental.
“Mothers give their children their car keys to play with and, by accident, the child locks themselves in the car.”
He cautioned parents to be mindful about where they leave their keys.
“If they’re left at the bottom of a handbag on the car seat, they can become compressed and lock the car,” he warned.
In the past few weeks, Mr Cronin was called to a family home in Thomastown where a child had accidentally locked itself in the car while parked in the driveway.
He also attended an incident in the Epping Plaza carpark where a child had also locked itself inside a car.
He said on a hot day, the temperature inside a car could rise to more than 40 or 50 degrees within 10 minutes.
That is enough for a child to die of dehydration, he said.
Hume’s Acting Inspector Phil Nash urged parents and the public to stay vigilant.
“It’s always been an issue around Christmas time and during the school holidays, but the public are more vigilant now than they used to be,” he said.
“The people doing this risk harm to their children,” Inspector Nash said.
“And it’s an offence.”
