Baby in hot car at Gepps Cross, South Australia

Police urge parents not to leave children in cars after a child was rescued from a hot car at Gepps Cross this morning.

Police were called to a Gepps Cross car park just before 11.30am on Wednesday 8 January by reports a baby was in obvious distress in a parked car.

A traffic officer and a police dog handler both arrived within minutes and, while one officer was breaking into the car, the other quickly located the parent and the child was freed from the hot car.

The baby was taken by ambulance to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital as a precaution.

After only a few minutes in the car without the airconditioner on, the temperature can soar, putting kids and pets at risk of heat related illness or even death. Just cracking the window is not enough, and don’t think it’ll be okay “just for a minute”.

Anyone concerned for the welfare of a child or animal in a hot car is encouraged to ring the police assistance line on 131 444 or Triple Zero in an emergency and seek advice.

/Public Release. View in full here.