A COUPLE in Sevilla have been arrested after leaving their baby in a closed car in the 40C heat to go shopping.
A man called the police upon hearing a baby crying from the inside of a car, which had all doors locked and barely an opening in one of the windows.
The couple had gone shopping to a nearby supermarket and left the car in direct sun on a road that registered 40C outside the vehicle.
When the police managed to free the child, he showed symptoms of heat exhaustion. The baby had a flushed face and clothes soaked in sweat, which led to the couple being arrested for child neglect.
The baby was taken by ambulance to a health centre immediately.
READ MORE: Record €13.3m medical negligence award in Spain after baby is not given enough oxygen
The Spanish water company Bezoya has recently posted a guide on how to help babies during major heatwaves:
“If a baby becomes dehydrated, this can lead to an increased demand for milk. It is recommended that the mother feeds on demand and avoids fixed feeding times. In the early stages of life, a higher fluid intake is required than in adulthood.
“According to the EFSA (5), the recommendations for water intake in infants are:
- 0–6 months: 0.7 L/day, obtained from breast milk or suitable formula.
- 7–12 months: 0.8 to 1 L/day, assuming this comes from breast milk, formula and other complementary foods and drinks.
“Physical contact: the bond between the mother and the newborn is very important, and therefore so is skin-to-skin contact. However, care must be taken as this contact can cause the temperature and sweating of both mother and baby to rise.
“Care must also be taken with warm clothing, and babies in particular should not be overdressed, as this makes it more difficult to recognise when they are uncomfortable.”
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