Michiganders can expect extremely hot weather this weekend, so you probably want to get out your air conditioners for the season — if you haven’t already.
You may also want to check what’s in your car. Just like when its freezing outside, there are certain things you shouldn’t leave in the car during scorching temperatures.
Temperatures inside your vehicle can become dangerous very quickly. Last year, 39 children died in the U.S. from heatstroke in vehicles, up 35% from 2023, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Over half of the children who die of heatstroke in vehicles are as a result of a parent or caregiver forgetting a child in the car, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Here’s what to know as Wisconsin heats up for the summer to keep you and your family safe:
Never leave your children or pets in your car unattended
It’s never OK to leave a child or pet in a hot car. And cracking a window doesn’t make a difference either, the American Veterinary Medical Association notes.
Over the past 25 years, more than 1,010 children have died of heatstroke after they were left or were trapped in a hot car. In 2018 and 2019, there were a record number of hot car deaths with 53 children dying each year, the most in at least 25 years, according to NoHeatStroke.org.
How to prevent hot car deaths:
The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends the following steps to prevent hot car deaths:
What else shouldn’t I leave in the car when its hot out?
Aerosol cans
Extreme temperatures can cause aerosol cans to “become unstable” and potentially break or explode, according to Capital One Auto Navigator.
Batteries
Keeping batteries in hot weather or direct sunlight poses a fire risk, the U.S. Fire Administration says. Batteries that overheat can also leak or rupture.
You should always follow the manufacturer’s directions for batteries.
Electronics
Like with batteries, you should always follow the manufacturer’s directions when it comes to electronics. Most — like Apple and Samsung — recommend you don’t expose products to extreme temperatures at all.
Food and beverages
You shouldn’t leave your groceries in a hot car for more than two hours, or one hour when it’s above 90 degrees, Geico recommends. Not only can some items, like canned beverages, make a mess in extreme temperatures, the FDA says food borne illness-causing bacteria doubles every 20 minutes.
Lighters
The flammable fuel inside of lighters could expand and breach its casing, posing a fire or explosion risk, according to Geico. The USB Lighter Company notes disposable or cheaper lighters are also more susceptible to extreme temperature effects than other kinds.
Medications
Extreme temperatures can cause medications to become less effective or cause unintended side effects, Baylor College of Medicine notes. You should not take medications if they have been exposed to heat and have changed color, texture or odor.
If you’re unsure whether a medication has gone bad, you should call a pharmacist or healthcare provider. Most medication bottles also have temperature and expiration dates, according to Baylor College of Medicine.
Plastic bottles
Plastic water bottles are known to “leach” chemicals into water, a process driven by heat, USA TODAY reported. If you drink the water inside of a plastic bottle that’s been left in a hot car, you could be ingesting some harmful chemicals.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen that’s exposed to high temperatures can shorten its shelf life, Geico said, citing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: It’s about to heat up in Michigan. Here’s 10 things you shouldn’t leave in a hot car
Reporting by Cailey Gleeson and Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
