Victorians praised for reducing hot-car emergencies, but message remains critical

New figures show a 14 per cent reduction in hot-car call-outs across Victoria, and while we thank the community for its vigilance, our paramedics warn the danger remains life-threatening as temperatures climb.

Over the past 12 months, we responded to more than a thousand reports of people left in vehicles between December 2024 and November 2025. Matt Coomber, Ambulance Victoria’s State Manager - Regional Emergency Management said the decrease was encouraging, but the numbers still show a disturbing trend.

“A parked vehicle can become deadly in minutes. Never leave kids or elderly people in cars, even for a moment,” Matt said.

“Inside a car, the temperature can double in minutes. That rapid rise can cause serious injury or death long before help arrives.

“Children are especially vulnerable because their body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult.”

Matt said many incidents occur in everyday situations where distractions or quick mistakes lead to a child being unintentionally locked in a vehicle.

“We know accidents happen. Keys get bumped, doors shut unexpectedly and children can play with locks,” he said.

“Always take children with you when you leave the car, keep keys with you and stay alert when loading or unloading family members.

“And if a child or anyone else becomes trapped, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. Seconds matter.”

Kidsafe Victoria CEO Sarah Sexton said families often underestimate how fast conditions inside a vehicle can escalate.

“The temperature inside a parked car can be 20-30 degrees hotter than outside, meaning even on a day in the low twenties, a vehicle can become dangerously hot within minutes,” she said.

“Leaving a window open has little effect on the temperature inside a parked car. It’s important to always take your children with you - every single time - and never give the keys to your child to play with.”

Sarah said most hot-car emergencies occur close to home and can happen to any family, regardless of experience or intention, with keys sometimes being inadvertently locked inside the vehicle.

“It takes only a brief distraction or a quick stop for a child to be in serious danger, and the consequences can be tragic.”

With warmer conditions forecast across Victoria and sustained heat expected in some regional centres, the risk of hot-car emergencies is rising and the message remains critical.

High temperatures increase the risk of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can become life-threatening if not treated early.

To stay safe in the heat, Victorians are encouraged to drink water regularly throughout the day, keep cool using fans or air conditioning where possible, wear a hat and sunscreen, and avoid being outdoors during the hottest part of the day.

This summer’s hot car data

Annual comparative AV data on people left in vehicles

(1 December 2024 – 30 November 2025)

Paramedics were called to 1048 cases of people locked in cars from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025. This is compared to 1211 cases from 1 December 2023 – 30 November 2024.

Most of the call-outs were in the summer months. 33 per cent – or 346 cases – were between 1 December 2024 and 28 February 2025.

December 2024 had the most cases (127), dropping to 65 cases in July 2025.

Of the cases where a child’s age was recorded (<13 years old), toddlers aged one to three years old made up the largest group, representing 67 per cent of identified child cases.

For children under 13, 11am and 4pm were the busiest times of the day for locked in car call-outs.

Top 10 suburbs for call outs relating to people locked in vehicles

Yearly comparison

If you need healthcare this summer

If you need urgent healthcare but it is not life-threatening, you can save ambulances for emergencies by using:

• Urgent Care Clinics, open late and on weekends
• Victorian Virtual Emergency Department, available 24/7
• Nurse-on-Call on 1300 60 60 24

If you or someone else is in a life-threatening situation, call Triple Zero (000).

Heat health resources are available in multiple languages on the Ambulance Victoria website: ambulance.vic.gov.au/translated-resources/