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On average three children are being rescued from locked cars every day in Queensland alone.

In most cases they are becoming trapped after being handed the keys to play with.

The RACQ helped retrieve 1268 children from locked cars last year, which was 51 fewer than previous year, reports 9 news.

However spokeswoman Lauren Ritchie said many cases could be avoided if parents gave their children a toy – rather than car keys – to play with.

“We find that in the majority of cases, kids are becoming trapped in cars because parents give their child the car keys to play with and in a flash, they’ve pressed the lock button,” Ms Ritchie said.

Five babies have already been rescued from locked cars in Queensland this year which was concerning given recent high temperatures, she added.

It is important to remember –

•A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s because of their underdeveloped immune system.
•On a typical Australian summer day, the temperature inside a parked car can be 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the temperature outside.
•Leaving the car windows down slightly has little effect on the inside temperature.

5,000 kids are left unattended in cars every year across Australia.

Please get the kids out and take them with you at all times.

Share your comments below.

 Image via Getty

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  • Personally have never seen the fascination with giving children metal keys …do children like them because they rattle and make a jingling sound ? anyhow my friend has a set of the coloured keys you can get at key cutters, she has all different bright coloured ones, has put them on a key ring and hands them to her grandchildren when they need something to entertain them.

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  • Have to agree with this one. While the kids are in the car, never let them play with the keys. But on the kitchen floor is ok……til they lose them :/

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  • The keys are not a toy to be played with!

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  • So scary to have your kid locked up in the car with the hot weather !!
    I never gave/give my kids the car keys, even not when we were/are in the house. I’ve always kept old keys for playing (the same way I kept old remote controls and old phones).

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  • Car keys should never be given to a child – too many of them know how to start the car and some even try to drive it. Monkey see – monkey do. This is one habit that should be stopped.

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  • They need to make more realistic toy keys. Kids always know the difference. But yes, it’s a good idea to keep the real keys away from little fingers at all times.

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  • Regardless of whether they have a remote system children should never be given keys apart from toy ones. If you put them in the ignition while you unload your groceries or put your baby stroller into the boot. Strap your child into seatbelt first.

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  • There is no reason to give the car keys to a child indeed!!


    • Car keys are also very dirty and have sharp areas – so many reasons not to give children car keys.

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  • my stupid hubby keeps giving keys to our son once he is in the house so kiddo unlocks the car, sets off the alarm then loses the keys. every. damn. day.

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  • A good warning and toy keys are safer for so many reasons.

    Reply

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