Members of the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services are asking parents and caregivers to stop the dangerous practice of leaving children unsupervised in vehicles.
“There’s no circumstance where a child should be left inside a vehicle,” said EMS spokesperson Naomi Nania. “Temperatures inside a vehicle rise rapidly to a point where young children simply cannot cope.”
When temperatures outside of a vehicle near the 20C mark, the temperature inside the vehicle can reach 40C in less than an hour’s time.
Children in parked vehicles are susceptible to head exhaustion that, if left untreated, could escalate to heat stroke and possible death.
On top of the medical risks children in hot vehicles are exposed to, parents and caregivers may face charges with ‘causing a child to be in need of intervention’. The penalty associated with the charge can result in a fine of up to $25,000 and a prison term of up to two years.
Anyone who encounters a parked vehicle with unattended children inside is encouraged to contact 911 immediately.
