Around one child or pet required saving every week this year in Logan after being left locked in a car.
Between September 2023 and October 2024, RACQ responded to 104 emergency lock-ins across the city.
Of these callouts, 41 were animals and 59 were children locked in vehicles.
How dangerous is this?
Well, for RACQ, it’s their “highest priority”.
“In summer, cabin temperatures can exceed 40 degrees in around 30 minutes,” RACQ’s assistance and automotive general manager, Mark Boswell said.
“That is a dangerous temperature threshold for humans and animals, which could have deadly consequences.”
The number of cases in Logan was the fifth highest in the state.
However, the city’s figures were not disproportionately represented in the state-wide total, which came to 799 children and 776 animals lock-in rescues.
That is more than two children and two animals locked in a car every day.
“While many of these cases are accidental, there are things you can do to avoid the risk,” Mr Boswell said.
“You should never leave children or pets alone in the car, always keep your keys on you and don’t give them to your child to play with.
“The most common scenario our patrols see is the parent has given the child the keys to play with while they load items into the car.”
