But the heat's not gone!
Remember, the temperature inside a parked car can rise and reach dangerous levels in a very short time. Inside a parked car can be up to 30 degrees hotter than the outside temperature, even if you leave the windows rolled down slightly, and even on a mild or overcast day.
Can we ever leave a child alone in the car? Well, each Australia state has its own laws [1] which differ slightly; however, the safe bet is say “Never!” The Victorian government has a Never Leave Kids in Cars[2] campaign highlighting the dangers including heat stroke and dehydration. If it’s 300C, your car can hit 600C much more quickly than you think.
A child can heat up much more quickly than an adult and leaving the window down[3] doesn’t have a big effect on reducing the temperature. The “risk point” can be reached in less than ten minutes.
We know parenting is a 24 hour job and fatigue can take its toll. Whether you’re a parent, a carer or a childcare educator, be aware of “fatal distraction”[4] and take steps to reduce the risk.
And if you’re still not persuaded about how hot your car can get, check out this video[5]! This should convince you!
Never leave kids alone in car – not even if they are asleep!
Do you know the ideal room temperature for a sleeping infant? How much bedding is too much?
You can learn about these and other safe sleeping topics at our education sessions. Click here for more
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