HMC reminds public about the risks for children in cars during hot weather

A child's temperature rises five times faster than an adult's temperature, especially on hot days.

The Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP) of the Hamad Trauma Center has issued a list of best practices to keep residents, especially their kids, in Qatar safer while in cars during the hot weather. "We need to remind the public of the increased risk of heat stroke, even death, if children are left in hot cars. The temperature inside a parked car can be as much as 40 C hotter than it is outside. Even on a cool day, the temperature difference can be over 20 C hotter. This temperature difference can cause a rise in a child's temperature within the first five minutes, significantly increasing the risk for high fever, dehydration, seizures, heat stroke, even death. Hot days bring dangers for all of the population, but for children the risks are much higher. A child's temperature rises five times faster than an adult's temperature, especially on hot days, increasing their risk for dehydration and heat stroke," said Assistant Director of the HIPP, the community outreach arm of the Hamad Trauma Center Dr. Aisha Abeid. Dr. Abeid further explained that parked cars can get hot very fast. "Even when a car is parked in the shade, the temperature inside a car can rise to dangerous and even fatal levels very quickly. The younger the child, the greater sensitivity to heatstroke, and the faster they can become dehydrated. Deaths from heatstroke can happen even when cars are parked in the shade and winding the window down 5 cm or so has little effect on rising heat, also the color of the seats and interior has no effect on rising heat and large cars heat up just as fast as small cars. It is not safe at all to leave a child unattended in a vehicle for any amount of time, even for a minute. If you have to leave your car for any reason, always take your child with you." she said. These risks are not confined to children only. The elderly people or those with co-morbidities or chronic disease are as vulnerable as young children if they are left or wait for some time in hot cars said Dr. Abeid.