Dr Sue Packer-2019 Senior Australian of the Year

With the warm weather well and truly upon us, the ACT Children and Young People Death Review Committee and Kidsafe ACT today issued a warning to Canberrans about the dangers of leaving children in cars on hot days.

“Our message is clear: never leave children alone in cars, always take children with you.” Ms Margaret Carmody, Chair of the ACT Children and Young people Death Review Committee said. “Children can quickly suffer dehydration and serious brain injury.  In hot conditions children may suffer organ failure and die from heat exhaustion and dehydration if left alone in a hot car.”

“When travelling with children in hot weather, parents and care givers should ensure that children are provided with plenty of fluids and that windows be shielded to protect children from the sun. Children should never be left unattended in a car.”

The Committee advises “that if you see a child left alone in car in the hot summer weather, call Triple Zero (000) immediately and Emergency services will provide advice on the action to take. If the car is unlocked, bystanders should open the doors and shield the windows from the sun until emergency services arrive.”

The purpose of the ACT Children and Young People Death review Committee is to prevent and reduce child deaths. Click on the links to access Committee reports, fact sheets, media releases and other related work of the Committee.

A number of child death review Committees have been established across the states and territories of Australia. Each state and territory in Australia with the exception of Western Australia keep a register of child deaths. A register of child deaths is kept nationally by New Zealand. The member jurisdictions of ANZCDR&PG have varying governance.