As you may be aware, we're suffering from some
SERIOUS heat down here in the South!
As in 95-99 degrees with humidity levels SO high,
it adds another 10 degrees to your heat feel scale!
Yes, that means it feels LIKE 109 degrees-
all you want to do is to lie in water or in front of the ac, to stay cool!
all you want to do is to lie in water or in front of the ac, to stay cool!
After seeing what that type of heat did to a candy bar Miss Grace left in the car
(trust me, you do NOT want to see what that looked like!), we started thinking about other things you don't want to leave in a hot car!
Did you know that if the outside temp is 70 degrees, the inside of your car can heat up to 89 degrees in just 10 minutes, and to 104 degrees in 30 minutes?
.And that number is compounded by how hot it is- so when it's 90 degrees outside, the inside of your car is 100 degrees within 10 minutes of the ac being off, and over 120 degrees in 30 minutes......
Did you know that if the outside temp is 70 degrees, the inside of your car can heat up to 89 degrees in just 10 minutes, and to 104 degrees in 30 minutes?
.And that number is compounded by how hot it is- so when it's 90 degrees outside, the inside of your car is 100 degrees within 10 minutes of the ac being off, and over 120 degrees in 30 minutes......
1. YOUR KIDS!
This goes without saying, but even with windows down, it's TOO hot AND kids should not be left unattended for ANY reason in a vehicle!
This can happen VERY VERY quickly in a car with 100 degree temps!
2. Your PETS
If you think it's bad on your kids, remember that it's WORSE on your animals!
Dogs can suffer from heatstroke in that 100 degree heat in a car within only 15 minutes!
3. Your Medicines!
Did you know that severe heat is BAD for your prescription and over the counter meds too? That's why it's recommended you don't place them in a sunny window, or next to a heat source! Temps over 77 degrees can alter the medicine at their molecular level, making them much less effective? So at 100 degrees for 5 hours in a hot car, those meds may not work at all, putting YOU at risk!
4. Food!
According to the USDA, bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. So if you leave dairy and meat (especially) in a hot car for ANY length of time, it's probably NOT safe to even think about eating it! Pack all food into an insulated storage bag or cooler with ice, or be prepared for some food poisoning risks! AND if you have a bit of a trip
It also sorta seems like a no-brainer to not put carbonated drinks in a hot trunk. Pressure + heat= one thing: an explosion!
5. Bottled Water!
You already know you can't run store bought water bottles in the dishwasher, as they'll MELT, but what about the hot car that is just a few degrees under that 150 degree mark of a dishwasher? Yup- your bottle will BREAK down, and that means chemicals in the WATER you, or your child wants to drink! Once again- leave them in a cooler with ice!
6. Makeup!
Just like how you want to protect your meds and food, makeup is made up of different ingredients that don't react to extreme heat well. Lipsticks and glosses with wax can unbind and melt out of their containers! Metal applicators might burn your hands, and those eyeshadows may no longer work. And forget the mascara! High heat will give you a globby mess AND bacteria that can cause eye infections!
7. Sunscreen!
It might seem counter-productive, as sunscreen is MEANT to be exposed to UV rays, but it's the HEAT that can again, break sunscreen down at the molecular level, causing your SPF30 to act more like a SPF10 when next used! So no matter the convenience, don't leave it!
8. Your Camera!
There is a reason the pro photographers DON'T leave their expensive cameras inside a hot car, to have when they spot something they want a picture of! You'll find many of them will use a cell phone or pocket camera instead. Why?
Because we may have evolved away from film, but high heat can harm the sensitive electronics INSIDE your fancy DSLR camera! Read your owner's manual and you might be surprised to see "do not put camera not being used, in a closed up car, or temps above 122 degrees, or you might cause damage to sensors and the internal CPU!" And extreme temp changes, like from that 120 degrees to 78 degrees, can even cause condensation INSIDE of the camera lens, mirrors, and the camera body itself! And trust me, those can ALL be very costly repairs!
So there you have it- the big 8 to never leave in a hot car!
Now go move stuff OUT of the car and head out to enjoy some cool water,
or cool ac!
This goes without saying, but even with windows down, it's TOO hot AND kids should not be left unattended for ANY reason in a vehicle!
This can happen VERY VERY quickly in a car with 100 degree temps!
If you think it's bad on your kids, remember that it's WORSE on your animals!
Dogs can suffer from heatstroke in that 100 degree heat in a car within only 15 minutes!
3. Your Medicines!
Did you know that severe heat is BAD for your prescription and over the counter meds too? That's why it's recommended you don't place them in a sunny window, or next to a heat source! Temps over 77 degrees can alter the medicine at their molecular level, making them much less effective? So at 100 degrees for 5 hours in a hot car, those meds may not work at all, putting YOU at risk!
4. Food!
According to the USDA, bacteria grow most rapidly in the range of temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees, doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes. So if you leave dairy and meat (especially) in a hot car for ANY length of time, it's probably NOT safe to even think about eating it! Pack all food into an insulated storage bag or cooler with ice, or be prepared for some food poisoning risks! AND if you have a bit of a trip
It also sorta seems like a no-brainer to not put carbonated drinks in a hot trunk. Pressure + heat= one thing: an explosion!
5. Bottled Water!
You already know you can't run store bought water bottles in the dishwasher, as they'll MELT, but what about the hot car that is just a few degrees under that 150 degree mark of a dishwasher? Yup- your bottle will BREAK down, and that means chemicals in the WATER you, or your child wants to drink! Once again- leave them in a cooler with ice!
6. Makeup!
Just like how you want to protect your meds and food, makeup is made up of different ingredients that don't react to extreme heat well. Lipsticks and glosses with wax can unbind and melt out of their containers! Metal applicators might burn your hands, and those eyeshadows may no longer work. And forget the mascara! High heat will give you a globby mess AND bacteria that can cause eye infections!
7. Sunscreen!
It might seem counter-productive, as sunscreen is MEANT to be exposed to UV rays, but it's the HEAT that can again, break sunscreen down at the molecular level, causing your SPF30 to act more like a SPF10 when next used! So no matter the convenience, don't leave it!
8. Your Camera!
There is a reason the pro photographers DON'T leave their expensive cameras inside a hot car, to have when they spot something they want a picture of! You'll find many of them will use a cell phone or pocket camera instead. Why?
Because we may have evolved away from film, but high heat can harm the sensitive electronics INSIDE your fancy DSLR camera! Read your owner's manual and you might be surprised to see "do not put camera not being used, in a closed up car, or temps above 122 degrees, or you might cause damage to sensors and the internal CPU!" And extreme temp changes, like from that 120 degrees to 78 degrees, can even cause condensation INSIDE of the camera lens, mirrors, and the camera body itself! And trust me, those can ALL be very costly repairs!
So there you have it- the big 8 to never leave in a hot car!
Now go move stuff OUT of the car and head out to enjoy some cool water,
or cool ac!
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