Don't leave your children inside vehicles

Please do not leave your children unattended in vehicles, even for a short time, during the current scorching El Nino spell as it can be life-threatening.

“It should not be done at all,” said Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia (MPCAM) vice-president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah.

“When a child is placed in the vehicle during a heat wave, the child may suffer from heat stroke or heat exhaustion. But the ability for one to cope with heat varies.”

Selangor Welfare Society director Zuhami Omar does not encourage parents to leave their children unattended in the car during the El Nino phenomenon.

“Parents should not leave their children in the car regardless of reasons,” he said, adding the weather should not be one of the reasons.

“School teachers should also take note of conducting outdoor activities during this period,” he said, adding that they should also keep an eye on students waiting for their ride home after school.

Suriana Welfare Society’s Rachel Ho is strongly against parents leaving their children in the car in any circumstance.

“If parents insist on leaving their children in the car, an adult should remain inside to ensure the children’s safety.

“When a child is left unsupervised, even inside a car, it can be a form of neglect or a form of child abuse,” she warned.