Heatwave warning

Children rescued from hot cars in Western Victoria, including Horsham and Ararat, have prompted Labor Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford to warn people to take care.

Ms Pulford said figures from September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018 showed paramedics responded to dozens of calls.

In response to heatwave conditions across the state last week, she said last year’s statistics included three occurrences in Ararat, three in Horsham and one in Northern Grampians municipalities.

The State Government is promoting Never Leave Kids in Cars and Survive the Heat campaigns.

Ms Pulford said the Never Leave Kids in Cars campaign warned parents about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars where they were at risk of life-threatening heatstroke, dehydration and organ damage.

“The temperature inside a car can double in just minutes in extreme conditions and a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s,” she said.

“While taking your child with you might seem like an inconvenience, leaving them in the car is risking their life.”

Ms Pulford said people at the highest risk of heat exhaustion include people over 65, people with a pre-existing medical condition, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and babies and young children.