A Deer Park shopping centre will be among the first in Australia to take a stand against customers leaving kids unattended in cars.
Brimbank Shopping Centre will install Do Not Leave Children In Cars warning signs in its carparks in coming weeks as part of a Kidsafe Victoria campaign to raise awareness.
Moonee Valley council is also tackling the issue, unveiling plans to install hundreds of the signs in council carparks, at early childhood services and sports facilities.
Tests by Ambulance Victoria have found that on 29-degree days, car interiors can reach 44 degrees within 10 minutes and 60 degrees within 20 minutes.
Paramedics rescued more than 200 children left unattended in cars in the first five weeks of 2015, with 73 cases occurring in Melbourne’s north-west.
Kidsafe Victoria president Erica Edmands said that despite a decade-long campaign, the number of children left unattended in hot cars had increased in recent years.
“We welcome the initiative by the Brimbank shopping centre to join Kidsafe Victoria’s Do Not Leave Children In Cars campaign as an example of community leadership in the shopping centre industry,” Ms Edmands said.
“Kidsafe is hoping other councils will follow the direct action by the cities of Greater Geelong and Moonee Valley, both of which took a major step in supporting their local communities and the efforts of Kidsafe Victoria, the state government, emergency services, health authorities and parents on this vital issue.”
But it seems Brimbank council won’t follow suit any time soon.
Community well-being director Neil Whiteside said the council supported the campaign, but there was “no allocated budget to implement signage”.
Mr Whiteside said the council’s maternal and child health service staff advised families about the dangers of leaving children unattended in cars.
