On a 95-degree Fahrenheit day, the inside of a car can quickly reach dangerous temperatures, climbing to 114 degrees Fahrenheit within just 10 minutes and continuing to rise significantly over a short period.
Understanding Car Interior Heat Build-Up
The interior of a car heats up rapidly due to the greenhouse effect. Sunlight passes through the windows, warms the dashboard, seats, and other surfaces, and then converts into long-wave radiation. This heat gets trapped inside the vehicle, as the glass prevents it from escaping, causing the interior temperature to soar far beyond the outside air temperature.
How Quickly Does a Car Heat Up?
When the ambient temperature is 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the interior of a vehicle can become dangerously hot in a very short amount of time. The temperature rise is not gradual; it accelerates rapidly, posing a severe risk to anyone left inside.
Here's a breakdown of how hot the interior can get based on elapsed time:
| Time Elapsed | Interior Temperature |
|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 114°F |
| 20 minutes | 124°F |
| 40 minutes | 133°F |
Even on a day that doesn't feel excessively hot, the inside of a car can reach life-threatening temperatures.
Dangers of Hot Car Interiors
The rapid increase in car interior temperatures presents significant risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, pets, and the elderly.
- Heatstroke: Temperatures exceeding 104°F can be dangerous, leading to heatstroke, which is a medical emergency. The human body's core temperature rises, and its ability to cool itself effectively fails.
- Irreversible Damage: Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause permanent organ damage, brain damage, and even death. Children are especially susceptible because their bodies heat up three to five times faster than adults'.
- Rapid Deterioration: Even if a window is cracked open, it does little to prevent the rapid temperature increase or mitigate the dangers.
Tips to Keep Your Car Cooler
While completely preventing a car from heating up in direct sunlight is difficult, there are measures you can take to reduce the internal temperature and ensure safety:
- Use Sunshades: A reflective sunshade placed on the windshield can significantly reduce the amount of direct sunlight entering the car.
- Park in the Shade: Whenever possible, choose a parking spot under a tree or in a covered garage.
- Ventilation: If safe to do so, slightly crack windows open (just an inch or two) to allow some hot air to escape and create airflow.
- Cooling Before Entry: Before getting into a hot car, open all doors for a few minutes to allow some of the trapped hot air to escape.
- Never Leave Anyone Behind: Most importantly, never leave children, pets, or individuals who cannot help themselves unattended in a parked car, even for a short period.
