Even on days with relatively mild temperatures of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach dangerous levels. While the windows of a car do not warm very much from the sun's rays, the objects inside of a car absorb and radiate heat. A dark-colored seat or dashboard can reach temperatures of 180 to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. As these objects heat up, they warm the air trapped inside of the car. Cracking the windows has little effect on temperature inside of a car.
A child's body can warm three to five times faster than an adult's because children's ability to regulate body heat is not as efficient. Never leave a child unattended in a car - even for a minute - and use these simple tips to keep children safe:
- Check car seats and seat belts buckles to make sure they aren't too hot when putting your child in a car.
- Teach kids not play in or around cars.
- Always lock car doors and trunks, even at home. Keep keys out of reach.
- When driving, put your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have a child in the car.
Remember that pets can also quickly become sick or die if left in a hot car. Leave furry companions at home with shade and water on hot days.
(Sources: NOAA National Weather Service. "Heat: A Major Killer," http://www.weather.gov/om/heat/index.shtml; Null, Jan. "Hyperthermia Deaths of Children in Vehicles," Department of Geosciences, San Francisco State University, http://www.ggweather.com/heat/index.htm; Humane Society of the United States. "The HSUS Advises Pet Owners to Keep Pets Cool during Heat Wave." http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2011/06/heat_alert_pets_060811.html)
