Cool Tips to Cope with a Hot Car During Summer☀️
The temperature in Death Valley, California, this past weekend was projected to be somewhere in the vicinity of 130 degrees, as pictured above. That’s hot! The Guinness Book of World Records lists the highest temperature ever recorded as being in Death Valley, at 134 degrees F. Most of the southwest is under a heat advisory, as well as most of the U.S. lately.
Maybe you don’t have to work in the heat, but you might need to drive in the heat. Whether you are commuting to and from work, or driving to and from a job site, you may be getting into a vehicle and going places. And we all know that a vehicle that has been sitting out in the sun gets warm. No problem, you say, you’ll just crank on the air conditioner. But there are other considerations.
1. Water! Stock plenty of water in the vehicle. Drinking the recommended amount of water begins on the commute. No one wants to be stuck in a vehicle, whether in a traffic jam or a slow commute, getting dehydrated. Having extra water on hand is truly lifesaving.
2. Check your vehicle battery! Batteries don’t do well in the heat. Geoff Sundstrom of the Delaware Department of Transportation is quoted in a recent article on CNN.com saying that heat is the number one killer of vehicle batteries. Read the full article here. A close friend of SCM, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, agrees. She changes her car batteries every 2 to 3 years.
3. Watch the road! Heat causes expansion of objects, and pavement is an object. Roadways can expand and buckle in extreme heat. The road you are taking may not be “smooth” like it used to be. Pay close attention for roads that become hazards.
4. Hot cars! Vehicles get hot in hot weather. How many times have you touched a very hot steering wheel that was exposed to hot temperatures? And if you don’t have a vehicle where you can open the doors and/or windows by touching a button on your key fob, even getting into your vehicle might cause a minor burn on your hand as you grab the door handle or steering wheel. Carry a towel, glove, or something to help you avoid getting a burn.
5. Fur buddies need help in the heat! Penny, the SCM office dog, would be disappointed if we did not remind you that even at low temperatures, our fur buddies should not be left in closed vehicles unattended. And dogs can get dehydrated, and get heat related illnesses, just like humans. They need water and as many breeds don’t sweat, cooling down is more difficult for them. Either leave your pet in a cooler place or make adjustments to keep them cool in the heat. Penny thanks you!
