Hot Day Hazards: 7 Things To Avoid Leaving In Your Car
It’s summertime, and you know what that means, scorching hot days that can turn your car into an oven on wheels. We’ve all been guilty of leaving stuff behind in…
It's summertime, and you know what that means, scorching hot days that can turn your car into an oven on wheels. We've all been guilty of leaving stuff behind in our cars, but when the temperatures start rising, there are a few things you absolutely shouldn't leave baking in there.
Scorching Hot Facts
Last year, Consumer Reports performed a series of temperature tests within enclosed vehicles at CR's Auto Test Track in Colchester, Conn. The objective was to gain a better understanding of how quickly the temperature inside a car can escalate to unsafe levels. These experiments were conducted using precision measuring instruments.
During one of the tests, which took place on a June day with an average outside temperature of 61°F, the interior of a parked car surpassed 105°F within the first hour.
On a different occasion in July, with an average outside temperature of 78°F, the interior of a lighter-colored sedan reached over 104°F during a one-hour test period. Simultaneously, the interior of a dark-colored sedan climbed to more than 109°F.
Consumer Reports provided the temperature readings after one hour of testing. However, it's important to note that the interior temperatures continued to rise as time elapsed.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a warning stating that even on a seemingly mild day of around 60°F, the temperature inside a vehicle can dangerously escalate to 110°F over the course of several hours.
Life can get hectic, and sometimes we forget stuff in our cars. But when the temperatures rise, let's avoid turning our cars into hotboxes of doom. It'll save you from unnecessary headaches and ensure your stuff stays in tip-top shape.
The next time you hop out of your car, do a quick scan to make sure you're not leaving behind anything that'll suffer from the heat. Here are seven items that you should avoid leaving in your car on a scorching hot day.
Living Things
LightFieldStudios/ Getty ImagesLeaving living creatures like kids, pets, or any living being in a hot car is a recipe for disaster. It's like turning your ride into a sauna, and trust me, that's not fun or safe. Keep your loved ones cool and comfy by taking them with you or finding a safe spot for them to chill.
Plastic Water Bottles
Kamonwan Wankaew/ Getty ImagesDid you know that those trusty plastic water bottles can release all sorts of nasty chemicals when they're left to stew in the heat? Yeah, it's not exactly refreshing. So, if you want to avoid a mouthful of plastic-flavored water, switch to stainless steel or glass containers.
Charger plug phone on car. Concept While charging, do should not use the phone may cause danger.
Rattankun Thongbun/ Getty ImagesLeaving your smartphones, tablets, laptops, or cameras in a hot car is like playing Russian roulette with their delicate circuits. And nobody wants to deal with a fried device. So, take themwith you when you can or stash them in a shady spot to avoid the meltdown.
Medications
gopixa/ Getty ImagesYou don't want to mess around with heat-damaged medications. When the temperature skyrockets, those pills can lose their effectiveness or even turn into potential health hazards. Keep them in a cooler bag or find a temperature-stable spot for them.
Rattankun Thongbun/ Getty ImagesDon't leave flammable materials like aerosol cans, lighters, or explosive cleaning agents in your hot car. Heat can turn your ride into a fiery inferno. So, play it safe and keep those fire-starters away from the heat.
Perishable Food
victorass88/ Getty ImagesYou leave your favorite cheeseburger in your car on a blazing day, and when you come back, it's a breeding ground for bacteria. Nobody wants food poisoning. So, if you've got perishable goodies, find a cooler or a fridge ASAP. If not, cut your losses and throw it away.
Fragile + Delicate Items
Hitoshi Nishimura/ Getty ImagesLove playing the guitar or rocking some artsy decorations? Well, guess what? Your precious musical instruments, delicate artwork, and wax-based goodies don't do well in a sweltering car. They can melt, warp, or end up looking like modern art gone wrong. Hitoshi Nishimura/ Getty Images
