PHOENIX — If a child or pet is left in a hot car, conditions can quickly become dangerous — and even deadly.
The public reminder comes as Phoenix is in the middle of a stretch of triple-digit temperatures.
According to the National Weather Service, within a matter of minutes, temperatures in a closed vehicle can reach over 140º or more. Even when it’s not hot outside, at just 73º, NWS officials say the inside of a car can reach 100º in less than half an hour.
“A dark dashboard or seat can easily reach temperatures in the range of 180 to more than 200º,” officials say.
A new law went into effect in 2017 that protects good Samaritans and gives them the right to break a car window if it's believed that a child or pet, or anyone else, is suffering from a heat-related illness. You must call 9-1-1 and inform them of the danger BEFORE breaking the window, according to the new law.
Watch the full story in the player below to see more from the Phoenix Fire Department heat awareness event:
For more resources and information on staying safe during Arizona's brutal summer months, click here.
