Unconscious baby saved from car as parent spent hours in mall

An unconscious baby was saved after paramedics were forced to break into the vehicle while the parent had been inside the mall for several hours.

IT IS BELIEVED THE BABY WAS LEFT ALONE IN THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS

According to MediResponse spokesperson Paul Herbst, paramedics responded to a call-out earlier this week.

“Medi Response search and rescue division responded to a Ballito shopping mall for reports of an unresponsive baby locked in a vehicle.

“On arrival of crews, it was established that a baby was locked in a sealed vehicle with no ventilation and was unconscious. A security guard had noticed the child, and center management alerted Medi Response.”

Paul Herbst

He said paramedics immediately forced entry into the vehicle and initiated interventions on the baby.

ALSO READ: Body of BABY found in cooler bag on Hartenbos beach

THE BABY WAS UNCONSCIOUS WHEN PARAMEDICS BROKE INTO CAR

“After being placed on oxygen, the baby regained consciousness.

“Enquiries suggest that the parent of the baby had been inside the mall for several hours, leaving the baby unattended. The child was taken into the care of practitioners.”

Paul Herbst

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT LEAVE YOUR BABY IN A CAR:

Dangers of leaving your child in the car include:

• Climbs out of a car seat and shifts the car into gear, causing an accident.
• Become ill or worse from heat or car fumes.
• Abduction when someone breaks into the car.
• Heat stroke can lead to permanent brain damage and death.

Heat stroke, called hyperthermia, can happen quickly without the parent realizing the danger. Even with the windows down, the temperature in the car can rise quickly and parents should not underestimate this. Young children’s core body temperature rises 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s, potentially resulting in brain damage or death if not attended to.

ALSO READ: HEARTBREAKING! Body of newborn baby boy found in a dumpster

Signs of heat stroke:

• An extremely high body temperature
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

HOW TO KEEP YOUNG CHILDREN SAFE

Simple steps to keep young children safe:

• Lock your vehicle to ensure that your child cannot climb in without your knowledge.
• Never leave your child unattended in the car. Rather take them with you or leave them at home with a care-giver.
• Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even with the windows down.
• Leaving the car running and the air conditioning on doesn’t make your child any safer, even if it is just for a few minutes.
• Teach children about the dangers of a car. A car is NOT a toy.
• Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition. Call for medical help if you suspect that your child has heat stroke.
• If your child is missing, be sure to check all vehicles and car boots immediately.
• When it comes to your child, their safety comes first so always think before you do anything that may put your child in danger, even if it’s unintentional!
• Children are not the only ones in danger when left inside cars. Pets, especially dogs, also face an extreme risk when left unattended in vehicles as they can be very susceptible to high temperatures.