With Memorial Day and graduation behind us, many families are heading out for summer vacations, and with the relatively low price of gas, many are choosing to travel by car. Road trips can be great fun, but parents need to be vigilant not to leave kids and pets in a parked car, not even for just a few minutes.
Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is an acute condition that occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can handle.
Hyperthermia can occur even on a mild day. Studies have shown that the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rapidly rise to a dangerous level for children, pets and even adults. Leaving the windows slightly open does not significantly decrease the heating rate. The effects can be more severe on a child because their body has not developed the ability to efficiently regulate its internal temperature.