You may be surprised to find out how high temperatures can rise in the interior of a car during a hot, sunny day. I’m sure many of you have noticed how the car can feel like a sauna during a mid summer day. Can you imagine being left in that car without any circulation? With a constant temperature of 90 degrees, the inside of a car can feel like 109 degrees in just 10 minutes. After 20 minutes the temperature rises to 119 degrees. And, it doesn’t stop there – after 30 minutes the car temperature rises to 124 degrees. One hour in the car and the interior of the car is at 133 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s 43 degrees greater than the outside temperature!
With the way things have been going this summer we may not see 90 degree readings any time soon, but the outside temperature does not have to be as hot as 90 degrees in order for a car to become an oven-like death trap. Temperatures considered mild can even lead to death during an extended period of time. A car can even become a death trap on a mild sunny day. It can raise the car’s inside temperature to well above 120 degrees. Never, ever leave a child or pet in the car. If they can’t come with you when you get out of the car, leave them at home. Since 1998 at least 421 infants and children have died in hot vehicles in the United States. Here are some hot car safety tips:
• Simply, just don't leave kids in the car
• Always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can't get to them
• Warn your kids about playing in the car by themselves without adult supervision
• Install a trunk release mechanism, so that they can't get trapped in the trunk
• Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about getting the groceries, etc., out of the car when you get home
• Make sure that child car providers and day care workers have a plan to make sure that kids aren't left in the day care providers car or van
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