A two-year-old boy was removed from a hot car where the temperature inside reached approximately 50 C in southeast Edmonton Monday afternoon.
Edmonton police said emergency crews responded to a call around 3 p.m. near 53 Street and 17 Avenue and firefighters broke the window to get the child out.
READ MORE: Mother charged after boy left inside 47°C vehicle
Fire crews measured the temperature inside the car at approximately 50 C. The outside temperature was about 25 degrees.
The toddler was taken to hospital as a precaution but police said he didn’t require any additional medical treatment.
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Police believe the boy was inside the car for approximately 10 minutes.
It’s alleged the mother locked the child, keys and purse inside the vehicle.
“I think any parent has a lot on the go at any given time, whether it’s carrying items or a lot of errands to run around, but the key is to make sure that at any given point, the child’s safety is never at risk,” Sgt. Steve Sharpe said. “That’s our main focus in any of these investigations.”
Although the incident is still under investigation, police say charges are pending.
“The focus of our investigation is looking at the chronology,” Sharpe explained.
“We need to look at the chronology of what happened and substantiate that in some manner. So, was the child left alone for a period of time before the person realized the vehicle was locked?”
“In these situations, usually it’s the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act where it would be causing a child to be in need,” Sharpe said. “That is one of the charges we are considering in this particular case.”
If anyone comes across a child who has been left alone in a vehicle, they should call 911 right away no matter the weather, Sharpe said.
“When a child is left abandoned in a vehicle, it is a 911 call, no question about it. Whether it is the wintertime or in the heat of summer, a child should never be left alone in a vehicle unattended because it does present a number of risks.”
READ MORE: Young girl left inside car during record Edmonton heat dies
In July 2013, a three-year-old girl died after she was found inside a parked vehicle in Edmonton.
The temperature in the city was 33 C that day, but, with the humidex, felt like 43.
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