AMBULANCE Victoria is urging the community to never leave children or elderly people in hot cars after Mildura ranked equal fifth in the state for ambulance callouts.
Victorian paramedics responded to more than 310 reports of people locked in cars in the past three months and a total of 1240 similar callouts from December 1 2022 to November 30 this year.
The callouts have remained steady compared to 1,228 cases last year.
Mildura recorded 13 callouts, equal fifth in the state along with Frankston and Point Cook, while Hoppers Crossing topped the list at 21.
Children below the age of 13 represent 93.6 per cent of cases reported.
Toddlers aged one to three make up the most cases, or 62.8 per cent.
Ambulance Victoria Executive Director Operational Communications Danielle North said on hot days, the temperature inside a vehicle could double and become deadly within minutes, which was particularly dangerous for children as a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult.
“Too often, our paramedics are responding throughout the summer months to a child left inside a vehicle, which is incredibly dangerous,” she said.
“Last summer, we thankfully saw a drop in cases, however, in spring this year paramedics responded to more cases of people locked in cars compared to the previous spring.
“We don’t want complacency to set in, so we’re asking parents and carers to always take their children and elderly people with them whenever they get out of the car.
“Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day, wear a hat and sunscreen, and avoid being outside during the hottest time of the day, if possible.”
High temperatures increased the risk of causing serious heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat stroke is fatal in up to 80 per cent of cases yet entirely preventable and the most at risk were elderly people, young children and those with medical conditions.
Thankfully, treatment is most often not required and of the 1240 callouts, paramedics treated 186 patients at the scene and transported just 10 to hospital.
