SAFETY ~ Arizona Sun & your Car ! (Phoenix, Gilbert: daycare, home, mall)

[AksarbeN]

The “valley of the sun” has a nice sound to it in the winter time, however in the summer time it can be a killer. Many new comers to Phoenix metro area forget about just how hot it can get and tend to run errands while they leave their child or pet inside the car. I have some interesting stats that I found today while checking the air conditioner in the SUV.

The outside temperature in the shade was recorded as 109 degrees in mid afternoon.
The temperature recorded in the sun while outside at the same time was 125 degrees.
---->>>>The temperature recorded inside the SUV on top of the dashboard was 183 degrees.<<<----
And the temperature recorded inside the SUV in the shade and on the seat was 135 degrees.



You can actually hard boil an egg on the dash board within an hour or if on the seat it may take a couple of hours. Now think about your child or pet having to stay inside the car for a while; 15 minutes inside the car can kill – don’t even think about leaving them inside while you run into the store for just a minute.

Don’t leave the motor running and the a/c on – there are too many car thieves just waiting for you to do that.

The two images below show the actual temperatures recorded on 6-26-07 inside and outside the SUV. Unbelievable to me and I’ve been here for 28 years! Ouch!

[MsB23]

It always boggles me that every year there's someone (idiot) who "forgets" their kid in the car when it's 115 outside. I get really irritated every time I read about some poor kid dying in the car because someone "forgot" them. How can you forget your kid in the car??? Grrr.

[ejk]

Originally Posted by MsB23

It always boggles me that every year there's someone (idiot) who "forgets" their kid in the car when it's 115 outside. I get really irritated every time I read about some poor kid dying in the car because someone "forgot" them. How can you forget your kid in the car??? Grrr.

It is horrible but I can see how it happens. When I had a newborn, I was so used to going out alone that I began to understand a bit more how someone could do it; I'd get home, the baby would be sound asleep and I'd only gone out with her once or twice before. It was so new to me. They tell new moms to keep their purses in the backseat just in case. Of course, while driving I had to turn around at every stoplight to make sure she was breathing... lol I've never left a baby or even a pet in the car but my heart goes out to anyone who inadvertently has.

Before becoming a parent I remember having days off of work when I'd be headed for the store and find myself halfway to the office. If you are a parent who usually goes straight to work while the other one drops the kid off at daycare/wherever... I don't know... sometimes people run on autopilot. Tragic regardless. Thanks for the post, AksarbeN

[LisaZ]

Wow. As a first time mom I never forget about my daughter. You do get sleep deprived and it is hard to think straight but for God's sake - they are the most important thing in your life. Having a child is the biggest life changing event that you can go through. Forgetting you have them is mindboggling to me. And even leaving a pet in a car. Come on! Don't even bring them. That simple.

[Axiom]

Unfortunately looks like this was timely info.

I just caught a bit on the news and it happened again. A baby is in critical condition after inadvertantly being left in the car for 1.5 to 2 hours today.
So sad!

[AksarbeN]

Axiom

I believe if you might be talking about the baby in the car again, it was yesterday when it got to 112 degrees outside. The authorities said that the inside temps could read 160-180 degrees inside on that day. Channel 15 news ran a good detailed story on this one. It seems to too many people just forget about their infants if they are sleeping in the backseat area. If I remember correctly this time it happened in Gilbert.

[ejk]

Just caught the update and the little girl did not make it. What a devastating story.

[HX_Guy]

Yea I saw that on the news too. The baby was in the car only 2 hours but when firefighters found her, her body temperature was 109 degrees! They said the inside of the car got to around 135-140 degrees.

That horrible to hear. Do these sort of things happen in cold climates, but the opposites? Has anyone ever heard of someone left in an unheated car and died?

[diggitydot]

I've heard about kids being hot in cars in cooler climates and emergency workers being called out to help, but never of one dying. (Although, I'm sure it's happened before.)

We're from the Pacific NW and I still read the news back home every day. I saw an article on it a couple weeks ago where three kids were left in their car for a couple hours on a sweltering (bwaaahaaahaaa!) 80F day. 911 was called, the window was broken out of the care, the kids were helped, mom and dad who were inside the mall were arrested when they returned to the car. Duh.

[ejk]

I can't believe someone actually left me bad rep for showing a bit of compassion LOL No skin off my nose as I've never left mine anywhere for even a second, but I wouldn't wish that sort of pain on my very worst enemy. I had an acquaintance who ran his child over in the driveway, and you could call that stupidity as well, but by that point what good does it do? Just hug your babies and be thankful.

I still think that reminders like this do no harm and perhaps might save a life.

I can't remember any cold weather stories from back home. I think the difference is that in cold weather the car offers some shelter whereas in hot weather it acts as an oven.