Springdale firefighters are warning people about the dangers of leaving children or pets inside hot cars after a recent demonstration showed a vehicle’s temperature rising from 131.5 degrees to 156 degrees in just 20 minutes.

The Dangers of Hot Cars

The demonstration, conducted at Springdale Fire Station One, aimed to raise awareness about the risks of hot cars, especially for children and pets. Firefighters helped 40/29 conduct the demonstration, which showed how quickly a parked car can heat up. Before the demonstration, an infrared thermometer measured the vehicle’s temperature at 131.5 degrees. After just 20 minutes, the temperature climbed to 156 degrees.

According to Springdale firefighter Mike Bronner, children are especially vulnerable in hot vehicles because their bodies heat up faster than adults. “Children aren’t able to dissipate that heat as quickly as adults, so their body temperature increases three to five times faster,” Bronner said. “All those together create an environment for tragedy.” Bronner suggested simple habits to help prevent a child from being left behind, such as placing an important item in the back seat as a reminder to check before leaving the vehicle.

Firefighters encourage people to “look before you lock” and never leave a child or pet inside a hot vehicle, even for a short period. If someone sees a child or animal in distress inside a hot vehicle, they should call 911 immediately.

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.