Paramedics slam reports of kids in hot cars

Victorian paramedics have been shocked by the number of parents leaving children locked in cars during an extreme heatwave blistering most of southern Australia.

Scorching temperatures across large parts of the country are tipped to smash records, leaving scores hospitalised with heatstroke and some of the world's top tennis players fearing for their health at the Australian Open.

Yesterday, Victorian paramedics received 11 reports of children being locked in cars as temperatures peaked at 43°C in Melbourne, with a similarly scorching outlook until Friday.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Holman told the ABC people were risking the lives of their children.

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"You lock your children in a car in this type of weather you may as well put a gun to their head," he said.

"It's absolutely the most dangerous thing you can do."

In South Australia, 70 people have already been admitted to hospitals with heat-related illnesses during the heatwave.

Adelaide hit 45.1°C yesterday, the city's fourth-highest temperature on record, and is tipped to break the record of 46.1°C tomorrow, News Corp reported.

At the Australian Open in Melbourne, the heat has caused one player hallucinations, struck down ball kids and sparked some to speak out against playing under 40°C-plus temperatures.

British champion Andy Murray has questioned the decision to play in the extreme heat, saying he is concerned a player may suffer a heart attack.

He said "it looks terrible for the whole sport when people are collapsing, ball kids are collapsing, people in the stands are collapsing".

Canadian Frank Dancevic, who had hallucinations of Snoopy the dog on court and collapsed during the second set of his first round match, said the decision to play during the heatwave was "inhumane".

The heatwave is expected to further intensify tomorrow before beginning to ease off by the weekend.

Sydney's west faces temperatures as high as 37°C, but coastal suburbs could be shielded by sea breezes that will keep the mercury below 30°C.

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Source: ABC, The Daily Telegraph, The Adelaide Advertiser.