What to do if you accidentally lock you child (or pet) in the car
A few crucial things to do if you experience an accidental lock-out
Sometimes when life gets busy, the unexpected can happen.
RAC Roadside Assistance rescues 400* WA kids accidentally locked in cars each year.
Did you know on a 32-degree day, the temperature inside a car can get to 40 degrees in as little as seven minutes?
Accidentally locking your child or pet in a car could put them at serious risk of injury or harm — especially on hot, summer days.
To create awareness in the community and reduce the number of accidental child lock-ins we have replaced selected car park lines with ‘key lines’ at shopping centres in the Perth Metro area that will act as a reminder to keep your keys on you.
Who should you call for help in this situation?
Call us on 13 11 11. We can help.
If you feel like a life may be in danger, we will quickly transfer you to emergency services. Unlike emergency services, the RAC are not trained to provide medical assistance, and cannot speed to a location or have flashing lights to signal emergency.
If you don’t feel like a life is in danger, we can send a Patrol to assist as a matter of high priority.
Time is critical so it’s important that we get the correct details straight away. This includes your location and the car make and model. Giving us the correct information will help us save valuable time by being able to find you easily. It will also help our Patrols to start thinking about how they will get inside your car as different car types required different methods.
Once we are on the way, remain with the vehicle and we’ll be there as soon as we can.
This is a community service and an RAC Membership is not required. We will assist all West Australians if you've locked your child or pet inside a car.
To avoid an accidental lock in, keep your keys on you.
What are the dangers of accidentally locking your child or pet in the car?
Director of the Telethon Kids Institute and paediatrician, Professor Jonathan Carapetis, said as outside temperatures increase, guardians need to be extra aware of where they are putting their car keys.
“Forty degrees is not safe for young children or pets because infants and dogs are not able to regulate their body heat the way adults can.
“It can have very serious consequences for their health. They’ll certainly dehydrate, they’ll certainly get sick and it can be lethal,” Professor Carapetis said.
The temperature inside the car can rise rapidly in an incredibly short period of time. Tests in Queensland by RACQ have shown the internal temperature of a vehicle can rise from air conditioned to ambient temperatures in as little as two minutes, and on a 32 degree day the cabin temperature can get to 40 degrees in as little as seven minutes.
How hot can a car get?
The temperature inside the car can rise rapidly in an incredibly short period of time. Tests in Queensland by RACQ have shown the internal temperature of a vehicle can rise from air conditioned to ambient temperatures in as little as two minutes, and on a 32 degree day the cabin temperature can get to 40 degrees in as little as seven minutes.
Why are children and pets at risk?
The majority of lock-ins occur when the child is given the car keys to play with or the keys are left within the child’s reach. With pets, it is usually when they step on the lock. Therefore, it’s really important that you keep your keys on you at all times.
RAC data shows the lock-ins typically occur outside a shopping or childcare centre or even in the home driveway.
What should you do if you've locked your child in the car?
RAC will come to your rescue if you accidentally lock your child or pet in the car.
RAC does supply a community based service and you do not have to be an RAC member for us to come and rescue your child or pet if they are locked in your car. However, please note that we are not emergency response and whilst we will send the closest roadside patrol to assist, we can’t speed or run red lights to get there.
To avoid this stressful situation and keep your keys on you.
What should you do if you see someone else's child locked in a car?
If you spot someone else’s child or pet locked in a car, please call the police on 000.
