Your Car Is an Oven

On a warm day, you may think it is fine to leave your kids or your dog in the car while you run an errand.  Unfortunately it is very risky to do this.  Cars are generally so well insulated that they can act as an oven, raising the temperature inside by 50 degrees (or more!) in less than half an hour. 

Heat Kills
One study on car safety was done on a day with an outside temperature of 95  degrees F -- a hot day, but not abnormal for most areas during the summertime.  The study showed that the air temperature inside a previously air-conditioned car exceeded 122 degrees F within 20 minutes.  Within 40 minutes, the temperature had soared to 150 degrees F.  That's not a very long time for the temperature to rise to levels that can easily kill people and pets. 

It might seem ridiculous, but temperatures above 110 degrees F can kill.  Heatstroke can occur when the body temperature reaches 105 degrees and death becomes almost certain at 107 degrees. Research shows that a child in a car on a day in the 90s can suffer heatstroke within minutes, followed by permanent disability or death.

Many people think that the car will stay cool enough if they crack the windows open, but the study proved them wrong.  It showed that the difference that slightly opened windows made was insubstantial, and that the car temperature would still rise to deadly heights in just the time it took to run a quick errand. 

Educate Yourself
The National Safe Kids Campaign recently found that almost one in 10 parents surveyed thought it was safe to leave a child unattended in a car. Among parents between the ages of 18 and 24, that number doubled.  Because of this misunderstanding, innocent children and pets die in hot cars every year.  Don't be one of those devastated parents or pet owners.

There are simple actions you can take to avoid such a tragedy.  Don't bring your dog with you on hot days -- pets are happier and safer at home than in sweltering cars.  And although it may be a hassle to unbuckle and carry your kids with you, it could mean the difference between their life and death.