I've posted this topic elsewhere, but to me it's so important I want to spread it around. People who leave young children in a car during hot weather. I took this little article from our ambulance service website, so thank you to Ambulance Victoria:

NEWS

Child left in hot car in Dandenong
2 Nov 2009

Ambulance paramedics are shocked a young girl was left alone in a car at Dandenong during Saturday’s heat.

Intensive care paramedics from Dandenong were called to a car park in Stuart Street just before three o’clock.

Intensive care paramedic Greg Nicholls says the girl was still in the car when they arrived five minutes later.

‘CFA was already attempting to get the car open as the girl aged about three was suffering heat exposure,’ he said.

‘We don’t know how long she was left in the car which was parked in direct sunlight.

‘When CFA opened the car, we removed the girl and put her in the ambulance to cool her down.

‘She was sweating so we put some cool towels on her back. It helped drop her body temperature and slow her heart rate.

‘The girl was taken to Dandenong Hospital for further assessment.

‘Saturday reached 32 degrees. Once the girl was out of the car, CFA put a thermometer in it and the temperature in the vehicle was 76 degrees.

‘There could have been catastrophic consequences if the girl was in the car a few minutes longer,’ Mr Nicholls said.

ENDS

"attempting to get the car open" - I will simply break a window (if there are no doors unlocked of course). The quickest and easiest way to bain entry.

This three year old was sweating, she is lucky – at least I hope she is lucky and that there is no irreparable brain damage. How long could she last at 76 degrees? Remember, we use Celsius here, so that is 168.8 degrees for those who still use F.

It is illegal here to leave children alone in cars. If this wasn't an accidental lock in (they can happen), then I think the person concerned will have a court appearance soon. In which case I hope the Judge applies the maximum possible penalty.