BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — Just about every summer we hear of at least one child or pet dying in a hot car.
As it turns out cold cars during the winter months can be just as deadly for young ones and pets.
Whether they have two or four legs, the same rules apply the risk of hypothermia and serious illness increase for those who are younger and smaller.
"You want to be especially careful with very young children," said Jennifer King, a pediatric doctor at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. "Babies and infants have a very difficult time regulating their temperature."
In addition to not being able to regular their temperature as well as adults, children tend to be better at ignoring discomfort in its early stages.
This means by the time a child realizes they are cold, they've probably already been too cold for a long time.
Pets have a similar issue that they can not directly communicate that they are cold. They have the added obstacle of not being able to open the car door or call for help.
The effects from the cold are the same as they are for humans.
"Eventually all their systems will start to shut down and that's when they are in danger of having organ systems fail or stop," said Andrea Oncken, a emergency room veterinarian at WestVet in Boise.
To figure out how quickly the inside of a car get freezing cold I sat in a car without the engine or heat on after driving it around for a little while.
After only a few minutes the cab of the car dropped to 22 degrees - well below freezing.
Within half an hour I experience all of the following symptoms:
Red and numb fingers, unstoppable shivering, chest tightness, shortness of breath, faintness, loss of focus, involuntary twitching, and an inability to think clearly.
If a child or pet spent the same duration in a car, or less time in a colder car, odds are they would have the same symptoms and probably even be worse.
"That could definitely require a trip to the emergency room to get warmed up," King said.
So let this be a reminder, it may not be 100 degrees outside (not even close) but the inside of a car can still be a dangerous and deadly place for pets and children.
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