Heat Index Warns Parents of Car Temps ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Every year in the U.S., about 40 children die from being left alone in cars in hot weather. Now a research team from the University of Georgia has developed a table to warn parents about how quickly car temperatures can become deadly. WABE's Martha Dalton reports.
UGA climatologist Andrew Grundstein, who's team developed the table, says they used the same heat health warnings as the National Weather Service. "So people could say well, in ten minutes it's going to reach the level of a heat advisory. In thirty minutes, it might reach the level of an excessive heat warning. And I think that might bring home how quickly it can reach these dangerous levels."
For example, on a 90 degree day, the temperature in your car jumps to 97 degrees in just five minutes. After ten minutes, it reaches 103 degrees.
"These kind of heat health warnings are sort of general for a typical healthy adult. And children are very susceptible to heat illnesses. Their bodies just aren't able to cool off effectively as a healthy adult."
Grundstein is quick to point out that children should never be left alone in a car, and says he hopes the table will be a wake-up call for parents.


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