Definitely not, according to NSW Ambulance, who have already responded to one incident of a child being left in a hot car during a warmer day recently. 

On October 9 a two-year-old girl was found to be “heat stressed” after accidentally locking herself in a warm vehicle. 

Seconds are crucial in these matters and it can be the difference between life and death. 

As the warm weather is now here, residents have been urged to use common sense and never leave their children in a hot car. 

On hot days, temperatures can soar to well over 50 degrees inside a vehicle and sometimes much higher. 

Seventy-five per cent of temperature rises occurs within five minutes of closing the car and leaving it. On a 36-degree day the car will have reached 55 degrees, within five minutes.

Babies and small children are unable to regulate their body temperature as efficiently as adults and they do absorb more heat from the environment than they can dissipate. 

This situation can cause damage to body cells leading to unconsciousness, shock, organ failure and even death. 

Even in milder temperatures, children and babies can become sick quickly. 

Leeton chief paramedic Chris Bailey said using common sense was the number one ingredient in avoiding a serious or tragic situation. 

“Usually people out in the country areas like ours know they shouldn’t be leaving their children in hot vehicles, even if it’s just for a second,” he said. 

“It’s sometimes more visitors that come to town from say a coastal area where there’s a sea breeze and they don’t realise how different it is here. 

“We certainly do urge people not to leave their children unattended in hot vehicles. 

“We all know how much of a pain it can be to get them all out and sorted if you’re just ducking in to get a coffee, but it could be the difference between life and death.”

Residents should also be mindful of leaving pets inside vehicles or on hot utility trays in the summer months.

There are also serious penalties for those who are detected leaving children unattended in a vehicle. 

Hefty fines can be issued, while police and the NSW Department of Community Services may also be required to launch an investigation.

If residents do notice or find a distressed child in an unattended vehicle they should call Triple Zero immediately and ask for an ambulance and stay on the line until paramedics arrive. 

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