Media release No 39
19 November 2015
Never leave children alone in a hot car: RACT
The RACT has urged parents not to leave children in locked cars this summer.
Between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2015 the RACT rescued 84 children –
and 84 pets – who had been locked in parked car in hot weather.
Executive General Manager Membership & Community Stacey Pennicott said the
temperature inside a parked car on a typical summer’s day could be 30 degrees
Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius hotter than outside the car.
“On a day like today when the forecast temperature in Hobart is 24 degrees Celsius,
it means that the temperature inside a car parked in the sun could be as high as 65
degrees Celsius,” Ms Pennicott said.
“As the temperature inside a car increases, any child locked in that vehicle can begin
to develop heat stress and start to dehydrate.
“In addition, young children are more sensitive to heat than older children or adults,
meaning they can be at greater risk of heat stroke and other health risks.
“It is a pretty simple message – if you have to leave the car, even for a short time,
take the children with you.”
The RACT also confirmed that darker coloured cars could reach slightly higher
temperatures when parked in the sun, the colour of the interior trim had little
impact on the speed the temperature inside a car increases, tinted windows make
little difference to the temperature of the interior of a vehicle, a large car can heat up
just as quickly as a small car and having the windows down five centimetres causes
only the slightest decrease in temperature.
“Research shows that the inside of a car can reach 78 degrees Celsius in a closed car
and 70 degrees Celsius in a car with open windows,” Ms Pennicott said.
Ms Pennicott said if contacted about a child locked in a vehicle, the RACT would
immediately obtain the location of the parked car so an RACT Patrol could be
arranged to attend as quickly as possible.
“On arrival, we determine if the child is under any stress and try to determine how
long they have been in the vehicle,” Ms Pennicott said.
“We will then make a decision as quickly as possible about the need to involve
Tasmania Police or ambulance services if we are worried about the health of the
child.”
Ms Pennicott said RACT would attend to non-member vehicles if it was contacted
about a child being locked in a car in warm weather.
“We will immediately prioritise a patrol to any vehicle that has a child or animal
locked in the car,” she said.
Released by:
Nicolas Turner
Tel: 6210 5206 or 0418 538 865