Sun-baked cars can become death traps
— Never leave children unattended in a car —

Extreme heat throughout most of Idaho and the inland west threatened or surpassed record high temperatures this week. The heat wave broke longstanding records four consecutive days in Boise.

Rising temperatures lead to a number of heat-related illnesses, especially among the elderly and young children. And it can become a silent killer for those left, even briefly, in automobiles.

In the short time it takes to pick up a few groceries for tonight’s dinner, life can turn tragically wrong. Attention is diverted; a few minutes become 10 or 15 ... The threat to young children grows exponentially with rising temperatures in sunbaked cars.

This year, 15 children, including one in Idaho, have died as a result of hyperthermia after being left by a caregiver in hot cars. That is nearly double the deaths reported for the same period of 2012. Seven of the deaths occurred in May, nearly double the historic casualties for the month. In the past 15 years, 567 children have died in enclosed cars.

Hyperthermia is an acute condition that occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can handle, according to the National Weather Service. It can occur even on a mild day.

Studies show the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for children, pets and even adults. The effects can be more severe on children because their bodies warm at a faster rate than adults.

The Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University revealed that many deaths inside vehicles occur under relatively mild conditions of around 70 degrees. Even with those lower ambient temperatures, cars can quickly become death traps.

“The atmosphere and the windows of a car are relatively ‘transparent’ to the sun’s shortwave radiation and are warmed little. However, this shortwave energy does heat objects that it strikes. For example, a dark dashboard or seat can easily reach temperatures in the range of 180 to over 200 degrees F,” the SFSU report indicates.

Opening car windows slightly to create ventilation has only limited effects, according to the university study. The color of a vehicle’s interior is more directly related to the inside temperature and associated health risks.

SFSU offers the following safety recommendations:

  • Never leave a child (or a pet) unattended in a vehicle, not even for a minute.
  • If you see a child unattended in a hot vehicle, call 9-1-1.
  • Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Don't overlook sleeping babies.
  • Always lock your car and ensure children do not have access to keys or remote entry devices.
  • If a child is missing, always check the pool first and the car (including the trunk) second.
  • Teach your children that vehicles are never to be used as a play area.
  • When placing a child in a back seat, put a stuffed animal in the front passenger seat as a reminder, or
  • Place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car.
  • Make "look before you leave," a routine whenever you get out of the car.
  • Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not arrive as expected.

Remember, pets left in a locked vehicle have the same risk of becoming overheated and dying.

Published 7-5-13