AS summer settles in and Southern Grampians sees the mercury rise above 30 degrees, locals are being urged to remain vigilant, put their health first and never leave others, including pets, in warm cars.

With locals getting their first taste of extreme summer heat earlier this week, Ambulance Victoria (AV) are reinforcing the dangers of leaving people and pets in hot cars and releasing some simple steps to help people stay cool.

As the south-west experiences a seesaw of temperatures, AV regional director for the Barwon South West Region, Terrence Marshall said locals need to remain vigilant and aware of the dangers associated with hot cars.

“Paramedics were called to 1228 cases of people being locked in cars last year, including 410 during the hotter summer months, and we are already starting to see an increase in calls,” he said.

“In Hamilton, we were called to two cases of people being locked in cars last year.

“Heat kills more Australians than any other natural disaster, but there are simple steps you can take to beat the heat like staying hydrated, drinking lots of water and staying out of the sun.”

Statistics released by AV revealed 92.5 per cent of call outs for people locked in cars were for children below the age of 13, with toddlers aged one to three years old making up 62.2 per cent alone.

When a car is parked in the sun the temperature can double in minutes, with even mild weather resulting in a parked car being 20 to 30 degrees hotter than the temperature outside.

Leaving the windows down also has little effect on the inside temperature of a vehicle, with tests showing that when windows are left open 10 centimetres, the inside temperature only reduces by around five degrees.

Mr Marshall said these stark figures should act as a reminder for parents and carers to always check the back seats of a vehicle before locking the car.

“When it comes to kids - be extra vigilant,” he said.

“Last summer we saw too many call outs for kids locked in cars, and we are seeing the same trend again.

“Remember to check that your keys are in your hands and the kids are out of the car before you lock the door.

“And don’t forget older people and your pets.”

Just as people can experience dehydration, heat illness and heatstroke, so too can animals, with RSPCA Victoria urging pet owners not to leave their animals unattended in a vehicle as it can only take six minutes for a dog or other animal to die in a hot car.

To help keep pets cool this summer, owners are encouraged to provide a cool, shaded, well ventilated area; multiple sources of fresh water; and shade.

It is also recommended that owners not exercise their pet in hot and humid conditions and that they become familiar with the signs of heatstroke including increased heart rate, weakness, dizziness, vomiting, and seizures.

To treat an animal experiencing heatstroke spray cool water - not ice water - on their skin/fur, fan the animal, wet down the area around the animal, and take them to the nearest vet clinic immediately to be assessed.

AV said it was important for people to realise heatstroke is a life-threatening condition and triple zero (000) should be called immediately for anyone experiencing symptoms.

For more tips on surviving the heat, visit: betterhealth.vic.gov.au/campaigns/survive-heat