With the arrival of summer and rising temperatures, the heatwave is never far away. While we’re all aware of how hot it is outside, we mustn’t forget that the inside of your car can become a real oven, especially when the windows are closed for several hours. For your health and that of your loved ones, it’s important to adopt good habits in times of extreme heat.
So here are 5 essential things to remove from your car immediately during the summer months. 🥵
1. Medicines
Medicines are heat-sensitive components. When exposed to high temperatures in a vehicle, their active ingredients can degrade, rendering the medication ineffective or even dangerous. Always keep them at room temperature, away from heat, to guarantee their effectiveness and your health.
Particular attention should be paid to EpiPens and asthma pumps, which are particularly sensitive to heat: their effectiveness can be seriously compromised if left in a hot vehicle.
2. Water Bottles
We all know it’s essential to stay hydrated, but water left in a car in intense heat can become problematic. Not only does the high temperature make the water difficult to drink, but prolonged exposure to sunlight and heat can also encourage the proliferation of germs and bacteria in plastic bottles. What’s more, plastic micro-particles can be released into the water, harming your health.
3. Sun Care Cream
Sunscreen is your ally against sunburn, but its UV protection can deteriorate when stored in a car under intense heat. After several hours at high temperatures, sunscreen loses its effectiveness, exposing you to even more of the sun’s harmful rays. For optimum protection, always keep your sunscreen away from heat.
Remember: apply SPF even if you’re in the car – UV rays penetrate windows!
4. Glasses
Your eyewear is another precious possession that deserves special attention during the heatwave. Exposed to excessive and prolonged heat, lenses can become deformed, brittle and even scratched. What’s more, heat can damage frame components, shortening the life of your eyewear and compromising the quality of your vision.
5. Food
Exposure to heat can turn your car into a veritable incubator for bacteria, especially if you leave food in it. Food, especially that which needs to be refrigerated, can deteriorate rapidly and become hazardous to your health. To avoid any risk of food poisoning, never leave food in your car, especially during heatwaves.
Message from Dr. LeBlanc
The heatwave highlights the importance of taking good care of our most precious possessions: our loved ones and ourselves! Every year, tragic accidents occur due to extreme heat in cars, especially when children or pets are left unattended. Never leave a child or pet in a hot car, even for a few minutes.
In hot weather, it’s essential to be vigilant and protect your loved ones.
