Leaving Your Children and Your Pets Alone in Hot Cars Can Turn Deadly in Just a Few Minutes

The cabin temperature of a parked car can jump by 20 degrees or more in ten minutes, even on a cloudy day with the windows cracked

You stop for what feels like a quick errand, crack the windows and lock the doors, thinking your sleeping infant or dog will be fine for just a moment. That moment can turn lethal faster than you realize. In less than ten minutes interior temperatures climb sharply, and children or pets left behind cannot regulate heat as well as adults.

It only takes minutes

Research shows the inside of a car can soar by about twenty degrees within ten minutes. Children overheat up to five times faster than adults, so a cabin that hits 104°F can push a child’s core temperature into the danger zone. Heat damage can include permanent brain injury, vision loss and hearing loss even when death does not occur.

Signs of heatstroke in children

• Core temperature at or above 103°F without sweating
• Hot, red, dry skin
• Rapid pulse
• Restlessness, confusion or irritability
• Dizziness or headache
• Vomiting
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Lethargy or loss of consciousness

Preventable tragedies

The solution is simple: never leave a child in a parked car, even for a short dash inside a store. Take the child with you or arrange for another caregiver. To avoid forgetting a quiet infant in the back seat, place your purse, wallet or phone beside the car seat, or move a bright stuffed toy to the front whenever the seat is occupied.

Pets face the same danger

A dog in a fur coat cannot sweat. Even with cracked windows the temperature climbs quickly, putting the animal at risk of organ damage or death. Most businesses do not allow pets inside, making it safer to leave them at home with water and ventilation.

Signs of heatstroke in dogs

• Heavy panting and excessive drooling
• Body temperature above 103°F
• Bright red gums or tongue
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Weakness, staggering or seizures
• Vomiting or diarrhea that may contain blood
• Collapse or unresponsiveness

Children, pets and parked cars are a dangerous mix. Bring them inside, leave them at home with a responsible caregiver or postpone the errand. A few extra minutes of planning can prevent a lifetime of regret.