WE READ ABOUT IT almost every week, and most of us wonder how it can happen. Until it happens to us. Discovering a child has locked themselves inside a car with the keys can be terrifying.
Last year, thousands of children were released from locked cars by the various state motoring associations, and even more animals.
Stay calm
It’s easy to say “stay calm”, but most people, when faced with a child locked in a car, will start to panic. But staying calm, properly assessing the situation and knowing who to call for help are vital steps to minimising the risk.
Who should you call?
There are a number of options open to you if faced with a child locked inside a car. Which one you choose will depend on the urgency and danger. If the interior of the car is hot (and car interiors can heat up frighteningly quickly) immediately dial 000 who will promptly dispatch Fire and Rescue, equipped with the skills and tools to resolve the situation.
In the absence of a key, often the only option with modern cars is to break a window. Perhaps surprisingly, Police and Ambulance don’t always carry window breaking tools.
If the situation is not an emergency and you are unable to find someone to deliver your spare key, contact your state roadside assistance association, explain the situation, and they will prioritise you. Even if you aren’t a member of your state motoring association, if you call them, they will probably help.
Should I break a window to rescue the child?
New cars are very secure and difficult to break into. And breaking a window is not as simple as you may think. And there is always the risk to the child inside the car.
For just a few dollars, you can buy little hammers with a metal tip that is designed to break safety glass. But breaking window glass always carries some degree of risk of injury, to you and the child inside the car.
Prevention is always the best defence
When a toddler is left in a car, keep them occupied by providing a favourite toy, rather than tempting them to play with the key. Also, if possible, keep a spare key somewhere accessible.
If you don’t have a spare key, have one cut. As for cars with keyless entry, an additional key fob can be as much as $300 to $700, but still cheaper than replacing a smashed window. Alternatively, have a locksmith cut a spare non-remote key, service key or valet key. It should cost you around $50 (most cars with keyless entry still have a physical key, usually stored inside the key fob). This key won’t disarm or start the car, but it will open the door in an emergency. And once you have the non-remote key, check where the keyhole is located – sometimes they are behind a removable panel on the door handle, or somewhere else not immediately obvious.