More than 20 U.S. children have died so far this year after being left unattended in hot vehicles. Here’s how you can prevent more of these avoidable deaths from occurring.
Vehicle interiors heat up very quickly when parked. According to a study from San Francisco State University, the interior temperature of a vehicle can increase by as much as 19 degrees in about 10 minutes. This rapid temperature change means that vehicle interiors can rapidly become deadly.
Cracking the windows won’t do much good either, as studies have shown that the temperature difference between cars with open windows and without open windows is negligible.
Children are not the only ones who fall victim to hot vehicle interiors. Pets are often left in the car while their owner runs an errand. Pets also have difficulties regulating their temperatures, and drastic changes in temperature can permanently damage their internal organs very quickly.
To prevent these tragedies from occurring, some have resorted to placing one of their shoes in the backseat to remind them to check for their child or pet or making it a routine to open and close the rear door each time they exit the vehicle.
No matter your method, be conscious of where your children and pets are. Before you walk into the store for a quick grocery trip or get in line to ship a package at the post office, consider the health of your passengers.