Never leave a child in the car in the sun, even if it is not hot: in 30 minutes the interior temperature doubles

Did you know in just 30 minutes the interior of a car reaches twice the temperature outside, going from 27º to 50º?

It is the alert that launches the RACE (Real Automobile Club of Spain) to make parents aware that they should never leave a child in the vehicle, even if it is not hot, not even five minutes.

According to his research, children under two are the most vulnerable to heat stroke and die in just a few minutes.

26 deceased children inside a car in Europe

According to data provided by the RACE, in recent years 26 children have died in Europe for leaving them in the car in the sun, two of them in Spain. France, Italy and Belgium are the countries with the most cases of infant deaths due to heat stroke inside a car.

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These are hard figures that must be taken into account in these hot months, with thermometers above 40 degrees. And is that If the human body exceeds 42 degrees, there is a high risk of heat stroke. And the most vulnerable, children (especially infants and the elderly).

Children (especially infants) and the elderly are the most likely to have them, since their thermoregulatory systems are most affected.

But the situation worsens even more when this heat situation occurs inside a car, since the temperature increase is very fast and the consequences are fatal in a matter of minutes.

The RACE notes that it seems that these risks are not taken into account, as it explains only in the United States, an average of 38 children per year die of heat in the car: more than 800 children died since 1998.

In Europe, more than 93 cases have been reported since 2006, with 26 children who died from being in the sun in the car.

In 81% of the 93 cases analyzed, the parents claimed that they did not notice, while 11% said they did so consciously.

Babies, the most affected

Source: RACE

As for the age of deceased children, 65 percent of the total were less than 2 years old, since they are the most vulnerable age group, due to the immaturity of its thermal regulation system and the lack of self-regulation to avoid this thermal stress situation due to a high outside temperature.

The resulting hyperthermia, along with dehydration, can cause death. With very high temperatures if adequate measures are not taken, the high degree of dehydration and high temperature can cause the organs to function in an erratic manner, causing the symptoms to worsen progressively.

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Extreme temperatures in summer

Source: RACE

The RACE has conducted an investigation in order to know the temperature increase inside a vehicle parked under the effects of the sun.

The tests have been carried out with three identical vehicles of the same color.

Taking as reference a temperature outside (ambient) between 27 and 29 degrees, the analysis test has focused on the calculation of the interior temperature of the vehicle with three different situations: with the vehicle fully closed, with the vehicle with a window open 5 cm and with the vehicle with two windows open 5 cm (to form air current).

While the outside ambient temperature remains practically constant, the measurements inside the vehicle increase by more than 10 °, in just 10 minutes.

The temperature continues to rise and, Within a closed vehicle at 30 minutes, the mercury marks twice as much as outside. After almost 2 hours the temperature inside the vehicle is above 60 °.

In any of the three situations analyzed, the conditions are very extreme and involve taking occupants to episodes of thermal stress, which is especially dangerous in the case of children and infants due to the thermal regulation conditions of their bodies.

Temperatures rise rapidly exceeding 40 ° C in just 15 minutes.

The keys to prevent risks: training, technology and legislation

Those are the tools recommended by the RACE, which points to the technology that warns of the presence of the baby in the vehicle: incorporated in the SRI of the child car seats or through external devices for all types of cars.

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All devices, both new and reinstall, are connected to a mobile phone by Bluethooth, and will only work if the system-specific application is installed. Once operational, the device will issue a warning to the mobile phone if the driver moves away from the range of the Bluetooth signal (between 10 and 20 meters). And in the case that the adult does not act, from the application sends a signal to the predefined contacts as an emergency.

In Italy, child alert systems in the car are already mandatory from July 1, 2019.

As of this date, all vehicles, or all SRIs (depending on the built-in system) must be equipped with an alarm system that activates if the driver moves away from the vehicle and leaves the child (under 4 years old) inside the vehicle. car.

This requirement applies to Italian citizens and to drivers of vehicles registered in Italy (such as rental cars) therefore, tourists traveling to this destination and renting a vehicle must take into account this new regulation.

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Tips for traveling by car with children in summer

RACE gives these tips to parents, developed in collaboration with primary care pediatricians, to protect children from heat when we travel with them by car:

  • Never, under any circumstances, should a baby or child be left alone in a vehicle.

  • It controls the temperature inside the vehicle and uses the air conditioner to make the temperatures comfortable (around 22-23 degrees).

  • Before leaving the vehicle, always check the front and rear passenger compartment in order not to forget any occupant.

  • Teach children that the vehicle is not a playground, in order to prevent them from being accidentally locked.

  • Notify child caregivers or nursery or school officials to call you if they have not seen the child at the time of entry and there is no prior notice.

  • When traveling with a child, focus on their safety. Avoid distractions by attending mobile calls or issues that may make you forget that you are traveling with him.

  • In situations of extreme heat, offer the child water before he asks. If you find an unattended child in a vehicle, urgently call 112 and get the child out of the vehicle safely.

Photos | iStock

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