This is how hot it can get in your car in the summer

In the fourth week of July 2019, we were confronted with temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius. In those temperatures, a parked car quickly turns into a greenhouse. At an outside temperature of 30 degrees, the temperature in your car already rises to over 50 degrees.

At extreme outside temperatures of around 40 degrees, it can even be a good 75 degrees in your car. That is almost as hot as in a sauna! But even if it is only 20 degrees outside, it can get quite warm in your car on a sunny day after a while. Reason enough to take safety precautions when you go on the road. Especially if you are traveling with children and pets.

Greenhouse

Many people do not realize how quickly a car can heat up and that it does not even have to be that warm outside. The UV radiation from the sun heats the air in your car. The windows of your car let in the sun's rays, but practically no heat out. Because there is no air circulation in your car, your car effectively turns into a greenhouse.

Tragic consequences

Recently, there have been almost weekly reports in the media about dogs being rescued from sweltering cars by bystanders or the police. story about the father who forgot his twins in the car and found his children lifeless after his workday will not have escaped your notice. What we can learn from stories like this is that we should not be careless and should not underestimate the heat.

Protect your belongings…

In addition to people and pets, the personal belongings in your car are also at risk at extreme temperatures. Your lip balm starts to melt at 25 degrees. At 30 degrees, chewing gum and candy turn into a sticky mess. It is better not to expose electronics such as your laptop, tablet or smartphone to temperatures above 35 degrees for too long. That bottle of water left in your car acts as a magnifying glass and poses a fire hazard. Aerosol cans such as deodorant or hairspray can even explode at 50 degrees. 

…And your interior

Direct sunlight can also damage the interior of your car. Your dashboard in particular catches a lot of sunlight. Because a dashboard is often black and black absorbs all incoming radiation, too much exposure to sunlight can cause your dashboard to weather or develop cracks over time. To prevent this, it is best to place a reflective screen on your dashboard or windshield.

Be warned

If you want to protect your pets, children and personal belongings, it is not enough to park your car in the shade and open a window. Animals and children should never be left in a hot car under any circumstances. The temperature will probably rise faster than you think and the heat tolerance of young children and dogs in particular is very low. A dog can become overheated and even die within fifteen minutes. Do not leave electronics, aerosol cans or bottles of water in your car. Finally, always lock your car, even in the driveway, so that children playing cannot lock themselves in the car.

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Did you know that in some US states it is illegal to rescue a child from a hot car (you should contact the police immediately), but you are allowed to break a window to rescue a dog or other animal from its predicament? Crazy, right?!