5-year-old boy suffocates inside locked family car in Oman

Muscat: A five-year-old boy died of suffocation after he was left inside a closed car for several hours, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) confirmed.
The incident took place on the second day of Eid on August 22, according to an official from the ROP.
The police have advised parents not to leave their children unaccompanied in vehicles and to always ensure that the air conditioning is on.
Speaking to the Times of Oman, Ali Al Barwani, CEO of the Oman Road Safety Association (ORSA), said, “First and foremost, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of the child.”
“It is very sad and unfortunate that this happened. This is something we have seen occur in the past, and unfortunately, in spite of all the awareness campaigns, it is something we continue to see from time to time,” he added.
“One thing a lot of people do not know is that in Oman, the temperature of a locked car can rise to 80 degrees Celsius. This is close to boiling temperatures. People need to understand that a locked car can easily kill a child and that is what happened here.”
Al Barwani added: “We at ORSA have been placing extra emphasis on the safety of children in cars. We have reached out to schools and conducted a number of drives to raise awareness about how children can leave home and return safely.”
“A similar issue we are also tackling is related to drivers forgetting children in buses. It is always the responsibility of adults to ensure that no one is left behind in a locked vehicle and that all children are accounted for.
“All families should also train themselves and have their own safety checklist within the home, at school, and elsewhere. Children should also be trained,” he said.
As detailed by Al Barwani, similar incidents have occurred in the past, especially during the hot summer period.
In June 2017, a 28-month-old child died after being left inside a family car in the 35 degrees Celsius heat.
The toddler, Abrar Mohammed, was taken by her parents to hospital as soon as they discovered her but she was declared dead on arrival.
At the time, Dr. Amal Al Balushi, head of the Saham hospital that treated Mohammed, said, “My advice for families and the public in general is to keep your eyes on your children and not to leave them alone, especially during the summer. Also, when you leave your cars, ensure there is some ventilation, don’t fully shut the windows.”
A similar incident in 2015 also led to multiple warnings from authorities across Oman after two boys died in a parked vehicle after accidentally locking themselves in the car.
According to a relative, “When the parents realised the boys were missing they looked for them in the neighbourhood and only at around 5pm discovered them inside the car.”