EMERGENCY services have been called out to more than 25 cases of children and adults trapped in vehicles across Brimbank this summer.
The figures have prompted Ambulance Victoria to issue another warning on the dangers of leaving children unattended in cars, as Melbourne’s warmer weather continues into April.
Between September 2013 and January 2014, 30 people were reported as trapped within a car in and around Brimbank.
In Braybrook, Sunshine and Sunshine North, emergency crews freed six people from overheated cars.
Eight people were locked in hot cars in Keilor East, Sydenham, Taylors Hill and Taylors Lakes.
In St Albans, Burnside, Cairnlea, Caroline Springs, Deer Park and Ravenhall, 15 people were rescued.
One person was trapped in a car at the Melbourne Airport.
Almost two-thirds of Melbourne’s triple zero calls reporting someone locked in a vehicle this summer involved a child under 13.
The other third included elderly people and those with conditions which prevent them from letting themselves out of the car.
Ambulance Victoria group manager Brett Drummond has warned Melburnians not to become complacent as autumn gets underway.
“It doesn’t have to be a scorching hot day for the car to quickly heat up,” he said.
“Tests by Ambulance Victoria found that even on a 29-degree day the inside of a car can reach 44 degrees within 10 minutes and hit 60 degrees within 20 minutes.
“Tragically there have been cases of children dying in hot cars in Victoria in recent years and it’s not worth risking leaving your children in a car.”
Mr Drummond said parents should also refrain from leaving their children alone in a car to carry out a quick errand.
“Some people think they can just duck into the shop and leave their child but there’s a risk they will be delayed and it’s a risk that’s not worth taking,’ he said.
