IN the past two months, there have been at least three reports on toddlers dying of heatstroke after being accidentally left in cars.
When parking a car in the open and in a hot climate like ours, the temperature in the vehicle can reach up to 50 degree Celsius, even when the temperature outside is only about 32 degree Celsius.
The inside of a car is hotter as the car interior, such as the seats, absorb heat from sunlight radiating through the windows and from the body, increasing the temperature inside the vehicle.
A conscientious parent may intend to drop a child off at childcare, but in the routine of driving to the destination and when the child is not in the parent's full view, they may forget that the child is in the car and drive off.
Children can get trapped in heated cars as they are unable to get themselves out of a car the way adults can.
Human Rights Commission children's commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki has expressed concern over the heatstroke deaths of children left unattended in cars.
She commented that "it is prudent to recognise that the over-reliance on advanced child safety features has gradually taken away the innate vigilance and hinders a person's memory resulting in enhancing the parents' forgetfulness".
Some tips parents can take to prevent heatstroke incidents include:
PLACE the child in the front seat;
HAVE the childcare centre call parents if a child is unexpectedly absent after the day begins; and,
EACH time parents park their cars, look at the front and back seats. When they have confirmed that all children are not in the car, lock all doors to stop them from getting back inside and becoming trapped.
WONG SOO KAN
Petaling Jaya, Selangor