Hot cars can hit deadly temperatures in less than one hour

The Borderland could see temperatures as high as 106 degrees next week.

A new study reveals just how fast the combination of heat and cars can turn deadly.

Researchers from Arizona State University and University of California San Diego found cars can heat up to deadly levels in one hour. And don’t think you’re being safe by parking in the shade.

There have been too many gut-wrenching and heart-breaking stories of a child either left — or forgotten– in a car on a hot summer day.

On average every year in the United States, 37 children left in hot cars die from complications of hyperthermia – the body warms to above 104 degrees and cannot cool down.

A new study looked at just how fast vehicles can warm up on a hot day both in the sun and the shade.
They then studied the impact the heat would have a hypothetical two-year-old left behind.
Researchers used silver midsize sedans, economy cars and minivans during three hot summer days with temperatures in the 100s.

For vehicles parked in the sun, the average temp inside hit 116 degrees in one hour. Dashboards averaged 157 degrees, steering wheels 127 degrees, and seats 123 degrees in one hour.

For vehicles parked in the shade, interior temps were closer to 100 degrees after one hour. Dashboards averaged 118 degrees, steering wheels 107 degrees and seats 105 degrees after one hour.

Summer is coming and no matter what type of vehicle you drive or how quickly you plan to return to your car experts suggest double-checking your backseat and making it rule to leave no one behind.

Researchers found a child left in a car when it is 100 degrees out could begin to suffer in minutes and experience life-threatening injuries in less than an hour.

A child left in a car parked in the shade could survive a little longer, but not much.