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Children left unattended in cars: keep them safe
01 In Brief
Many of us are unaware how it is a matter of a few minutes before the inside of a car reaches dangerously high temperatures even with the window left slightly open. On a typical Australian summer day, the temperature inside a parked car can be as much as 30-40 degrees hottter than the outside temperature. During summer its time to rethink your next errand.
02 What Do I Need To Know?
SCARY FACTS ABOUT KIDS IN CARS
- Seventy five percent of the temperature rise occurs within five minutes of closing the car and leaving it, ie. on a 36-degree day the car will have reached 55 degrees, within five minutes.
- Ninety percent of the temperature rise occurs within 15 minutes.
- Dark coloured vehicles reach slightly higher temperature than light coloured vehicles.
- The greater the amount of glass in the car (eg. hatchbacks) the faster the rise in temperature.
- Larger cars heat up just as fast as smaller cars.
- The colour of a car’s interior trim has no effect on cabin temperature
- Having the windows down five centimetres causes only a slight temperature drop ie. from 78 degrees in a closed car to 70 degrees in a car with the windows down five centimetres.
- The temperature inside the car begins to rise as does the humidity, while the airflow decreases.
Adapted from Kidsafe NSW 'Kids in cars'
03 What Others Say
- Kidsafe NSW Inc
School Holiday Parent Kit: Kids in cars
04 I Want To Know More
- RACQ survey Manning R. and Ewing J
Temperature in Cars Survey RACQ
05 Clinicians Tools and Resources
- American Academy of Paediatrics: McLaren C, Null J,Quinn J. Pediatrics. 2005;116;e109
The information is not intended to take the place of medical advice.
Please seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
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Last updated: 17/11/2013 by Dr Liz Hallam