Kidsafe today said the forecast heat wave will place children
at greater risk of death and injury as it issued a warning to
parents to be on high alert around backyard swimming pools, leaving
children in cars on hot days, and pedestrian safety as tens of
thousands of young children start school for the first time this
week.
Dr Mark Stokes President of Kidsafe Victoria said the
forecast heat wave will see water become a major hazard in the next
three days as families look for ways to cool off at the beach, in
rivers or backyard pools.
"Parents should also be aware that water stored in buckets or
wader pools, a common practice during water restrictions can also be
deadly as children especially toddlers and babies can fall head
first into buckets and are unable to extract themselves.
"This is a time to reinforce the message that parents must not
take their eyes off children when they are near or in the water no
matter where it is."
Dr Stokes said we would also be calling on people to ensure no
children are left in unattended cars even for a few seconds as
babies and small children can be severely injured with brain damage
or die very quickly in extreme heat.
Following a death of a child and a campaign by Kidsafe four years
ago legislation has now made leaving a child unattended in a car a
criminal offence.
Tests conducted by the Metropolitan Ambulance Service on a 29
degree day with the car's air conditioning having cooled the
interior to a comfortable 20 degrees showed it took just 10 minutes
for the temperature to more than double to 44 degrees and in a
further 10 minutes it had tripled to a deadly 60.2 degrees.
Dr Stokes said with tens of thousands of children going to school
for the first time this week parents are urged to take great care at
the drop off and pick up spots around schools.
"Children as pedestrians are small and often cannot be seen by
drivers, especially those in elevated four wheel drives. This
problem is made worse by parents who double park or who park
illegally near the school crossings.
"Our simple safety message is to drop students on the side of the
road where they don't have to cross, if this is not practical park
get out of the car and escort your child across the road."
Media Enquiries:
Dr Mark Stokes President Kidsafe Victoria
Mobile: 0408 038 267
Aleks Natora, State Manager Kidsafe
Victoria, Mobile 0419 836 244
Ron Smith Corporate Media
Communications Kidsafe Victoria Mobile: 0417 329 201
