THE horrific story of the toddler who died in a hot car in Sydney on February 2 is a stark reminder of the dangers of leaving anyone in a hot car.
As temperatures soar all over the country, please remember that dogs and children should never be left in parked vehicles, which can rapidly become death traps.
Even on a mild, 22-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 47 degrees in minutes.
Leaving windows open will not keep animals or children comfortable or safe.
With only hot air to breathe, they can succumb to heatstroke in as little as 15 minutes, resulting in brain damage or death.
Symptoms include restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, diarrhoea and vomiting, and even seizures.
Please, when it’s warm outside, leave children and animals at home, or take them out of the car with you.
If you see children or dogs left in a car, have the car’s owner paged at nearby shops or call 000 immediately; their life depends on it.
If the authorities are unresponsive or too slow and their life appears to be in imminent danger, find a witness (or several) who will back up your assessment, take steps to remove them from the car, and then wait for authorities to arrive.
Mimi Bekhechi,
PETA
