A recently published article in the journal Pediatrics reminds
us all that heat stress from enclosed vehicles can
cause significant temperature rise
and put infants & children at risk for hyperthermia.
The effects of high internal automobile temperatures
takes young lives every
year in the U.S. In 2003, the number of deaths from
heat stroke rose in the
pediatric population to 42. Previous averages per
year have been running at
~ 29 deaths per year.
Temperatures in encolsed autos can range from 134
to 154 degrees, and do so
in a hurry. On average, temperatures tend to increase
3.2 degrees per
minute and this is barely affected by having the
window open a "crack."
These results are based on ambient temperatures outside
of only 86 dregees.
Southern California can easily exceed those numbers,
and often do.
This is just a reminder to parents & care providers
that small passengers
are subject to heat stroke at a greater rate than
adults, due to low body
mass. It is imperative that we pay close attention
to this issue and remind
all others that might transport your infants and
children in automobiles
that passenger safety during the warmer months is
everyones job.
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