Whether it’s a short shopping spree or a rest stop in a highway parking lot, the heat in parked cars can be life-threatening, especially for small children and animals. Our experts explain what consequences this can have for those responsible and how to help.
Every summer, rescue workers and police have to save children and animals from heat-related deaths in parked cars – because just 15 minutes in the hot interior of a car can be life-threatening. Yet the danger is often underestimated.
heat in the car: temperatures quickly rise to 50 degrees
Whether they’re resting in a highway parking lot or in town on a short shopping spree, drivers repeatedly underestimate the heat in parked cars and endanger the lives of the children or animals they’ve left behind.
A study by the German Automobile Club (ADAC) shows how quickly the interior heats up: at a temperature of 28 degrees, the experts placed three identical cars in the sun. In one of them, the windows were closed, in the second, one window was five centimeters wide open, and in the third car, two windows were open ajar. The result: in all cases, the temperatures inside the car rose to around 50 degrees after only 30 minutes. After one hour, the temperature had already reached 57 degrees.
What happens in the body during heat?
When the temperature rises, our first reaction is to sweat. Sweat on the skin evaporates and cools in this way. the warmer it gets, the more the blood vessels and arteries dilate in order to conduct as much blood as possible to the surface for cooling – our skin turns red. If the outside temperature exceeds our body temperature, the body tries to counteract it. By continuing to sweat, we lose important bodily fluids. When the body temperature reaches 42 degrees, the protein in the blood stagnates and the organs fail.
Children, on the other hand, sweat less than adults until they reach puberty – they therefore give off less heat, as less sweat evaporates. In extreme heat, the child’s body quickly becomes unable to reduce its temperature sufficiently.
Legal situation: what consequences does this have for those responsible??
Anyone who leaves their children waiting in the car at high temperatures must expect legal consequences. "the judiciary pursues cases of this kind relentlessly," explains matthias waldraff, a criminal law specialist from hanover. "even 15 minutes can be life-threatening. Many underestimate this."
the special provision that applies in such cases is called "suspension" in section 221 of the penal code (stgb). there is a provision that a person who puts a human being in a helpless situation or leaves him in a helpless situation, although he has him in his care or is otherwise obliged to assist him, must expect a custodial sentence. "if it is the parents who put their child in such a situation, they can expect a prison sentence of one year to ten years," explains waldraff. This also applies if the mother or father was previously exempt from punishment.
Hot interior: also life-threatening for animals
Temperatures in heated cars can also be dangerous for animals. Because dogs and cats, unlike humans, cannot sweat, they have to cool themselves by panting. If the ambient temperature and humidity are too high, however, even this is no longer helpful, warns the professional association for animal health (bft). Other signs of overheating in animals are glazed eyes, fever or coordination problems. In the worst case, heat stroke is imminent.
Danger to life: may passers-by break the window?
"passers-by who find a child or an animal in such a situation and do not help actually make themselves liable to prosecution in case of doubt," explains waldraff. If you suspect a life-threatening situation, the first thing you should do is call 911 and give the police information about the location, license plate number, make and type of car. "if you don’t see anyone far and wide who might own the vehicle and you don’t know how to help yourself, you can break the window," says the expert.
Until a helper arrives: providing first aid
Once the child has been freed from its position, it must immediately be brought into the shade and given water. Moist towels on forehead, neck and wrapped around calves have a supportive effect on circulation. The following also applies to animals: bring them into the shade, cool them down with damp cloths and provide them with water.