5 Surprising Items That Can Become Dangerous When Left In A Hot Car

Summer is here and the mercury level is on a sharp rise. It gets tough to ride a bike (unless one likes to give some ‘heat-therapy’ to their bottoms) and it gets harder to get inside a car parked in the sun. No matter how much water you drink and how many times you dunk yourselves in the pool, there is no escape to summer and the giant heat waves it brings along.

We all are used to carrying things we might need in the car such as a water bottle or sun shades and the likes. While we all know that leaving food or electronics to roast in the car on a hot summer day is a terrible idea, did you know there are some vital things that we are missing out to avoid leaving behind? Read on to know more about the 5 things that you never ever thought would be dangerous to leave behind in a hot car!

1. Sunscreen

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Sunscreen in summer is a beauty essential that most people carry with them wherever they go. Often it is kept in the dashboard of one’s car along with sunshades and other stuff, especially when on a long drive. But little did we know that this lotion that protects our skin from the sun can turn damaging when kept in the sun for too long. The plastic bottle that contains your sunscreen may melt or damage the chemical composition of your sunscreen even further.

2. Glasses

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Sunglasses are as common a travel partner as the sunscreen lotion while stepping out in the sun. Often, we forget to put them on and at times, leave them behind in the hot car. Just as a sunscreen gets damaging when exposed to too much heat, a pair of sunglasses may become ill-fitting or even melt. Metallic frames are even more dangerous and may cause skin irritation.

3. Beverages

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A water bottle or a bottle of your favourite beverage is far more important than anything else to keep you company on a hot summer day, isn’t it? But did you know that a bottle of water if kept in a hot car can cause a fire?

According to experts, water inside a bottle can act like a magnifying lens, concentrating and magnifying the sunbeams coming in (1). This could lead to a fire, which can be difficult to control inside a car. Also, the plastic bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate release a chemical called BPA when heated up. This chemical in small portions can be okay, but a higher content of this chemical can be harmful. It is also highly recommended to avoid putting soda cans or bottles in a hot car as overheating may cause the can or bottle to explode. In general overheating of a plastic/glass/metal bottle can alter the taste of the beverage too.

4. Medicines

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Medicines have a temperature range in which they must be stored. Exceeding this temperature range can alter the chemical composition of the medicines quite easily and hence, may completely kill their purpose.

According to Amy Butler, Director of Drug Information Services for Butler University, subjecting medicines to high temperature should be a concern. Most medicines have a temperature range somewhere between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Doctors say that a temperature as high as 100-degrees Fahrenheit (which is easily the temperature inside a car on a hot summer day) can affect the potency of a medicine (2). In some places, this temperature can be even 160 degrees Fahrenheit and that can make the medicine life-taking rather than life-saving.

5. Wet Swimwear

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After spending a relaxed day at the poolside or by the beach, it feels normal to pack your wet swimsuit back. But a wet swimsuit, especially the one that we are very likely to wrap in a towel, can be a great place for bacteria to flourish as the temperature inside the car is hot and favourable. If you wear that swimsuit again without a proper wash, it may cause you an infection!

If summer brings in unbearable heat, parched throats, and restlessness, it also brings in juicy mangoes, summer getaways, and ample opportunities to flaunt your latest wardrobe! Summer may not be the king of seasons, but it surely gives us a chance to holiday at leisure and connects us with family and friends.

I am sure all of you are eagerly looking forward to that family summer getaway or that beach vacation with your girl gang! But before you head out on a road trip or to relax at the seaside, make sure none of the above-mentioned items is left ignored inside your car. On this note, I wish you all a very memorable summer break!

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