Your Parked Car Is A Deadly Heat Trap

Your Parked Car Is A Deadly Heat Trap

Everyone knows how hot deserts can be. But how many of you know about the deserts in your city? Not one, not two, but thousands of tiny desert islands simmering in the heat.

 

Think about a car parked directly under the harsh South Indian summertime sun. The temperature in such a car can be anywhere from 50°C to 60°C—literally as hot as the Thar desert!

 

It’s very important to let out the hot air from your parked car before driving it anywhere.

 

As there’s no exit point for the hot air collected inside the car, it keeps on increasing in temperature. Whenever you return to a car parked under the sun, you need to first lower all the windows and switch on the air-conditioner for five minutes. This ensures that hot air from the car is blown out.

 

Plastic And Sunlight - A Deadly Combo

 

Mr T. S. Venkat, a Garage Owner at Medchal, said, “The plastic and vinyl present inside the car doors and frames emit a pungent smell in such circumstances. The smell wreaks havoc and can even cause severe headaches. Some people also experience vomiting when they sit inside their cars without allowing hot air to be blown out.”

 

In extreme cases, the inflammable liquid from cigarette lighters spills out. But thankfully, there’s no fire due to the lack of an igniting spark. And these incidents are seen every year.

 

Keep your pen drives, CDs and chargers in the glove compartment of the car. 

 

Mr L Narendra, another garage owner, said, “If your car is kept in direct sunlight, lower your windows by an inch or two so that the hot air can escape.”

 

Car Maintenance Tips For Summer

 

Ensure that there’s enough coolant in the car and there are no coolant leaks. This help keeps the engine in good condition and prevents overheating.

 

Remove inflammable materials from your car when you park it in open areas.

 

Plastic water bottles and cans inside locked cars are a no no.

 

 Don’t sit directly inside a hot car as it can lead to health issues. Give some time for the trapped hot air to escape before sitting inside.