Community Corner
Kids Can't Sit in Hot Cars, CHP Reminds Parents
Running an errand that will 'just take a minute?' A CHP demonstration shows just how hot a car can get—and how fast it does.
As summer temperatures rise, it's imperative for parents to be aware of how warm the interior of a car gets and not risk their children's health by leaving kids in the vehicle, the California Highway Patrol says.
The CHP conducted a demonstration recently about how quickly temperatures rise in a parked car.
Using a device to measure the interior temperature of a vehicle versus the exterior temperature, the difference was alarming. One reading was taken after 10 minutes and the second was taken after 15 minutes. With an outdoor temp of about 84 degrees, the interior of the car was 25 degrees hotter, according to CHP officer Erica Elias.
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State law prohibits kids 6 or younger from being left inside a car unless they are supervised by someone age 12 or older if conditions present a significant risk or the keys are in the ignition, according to Elias.
If a child is injured or killed by conditions inside a hot car, the person responsible can be charged with child endangerment or manslaughter, Elias said.
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