Quantifying the Heat-Related Hazard for Children in Motor Vehicles

Grundstein, Andrew; Dowd, John F.; Meentemeyer, Vernon

doi:10.1175/2010bams2912.1

Cited by 27 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…To assess the thermal load of an organism (humans as well as animals), more complex models are needed due to metabolic heat production (Grundstein et al 2010;Schuliar et al 2001) of the body and the necessity to stabilise the core temperature in a narrow interval by modifying the heat release of the body (e.g. Cheng et al 2012;Dixit and Gade 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cabin air temperature of parked vehicles in summer conditions: life-threatening environment for children and pets calculated by a dynamic model

Horak

Schmerold

Wimmer

et al. 2016

Theor Appl Climatol

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In vehicles that are parked, no ventilation and/or air conditioning takes place. If a vehicle is exposed to direct solar radiation, an immediate temperature rise occurs. The high cabin air temperature can threaten children and animals that are left unattended in vehicles. In the USA, lethal heat strokes cause a mean death rate of 37 children per year. In addition, temperature-sensitive goods (e.g. drugs in ambulances and veterinary vehicles) can be adversely affected by high temperatures. To calculate the rise of the cabin air temperature, a dynamic model was developed that is driven by only three parameters, available at standard meteorological stations: air temperature, global radiation and wind velocity. The transition from the initial temperature to the constant equilibrium temperature depends strongly on the configuration of the vehicle, more specifically on insulation, window area and transmission of the glass, as well as on the meteorological conditions. The comparison of the model with empirical data showed good agreement. The model output can be applied to assess the heat load of children and animals as well as temperature-sensitive goods, which are transported and/or stored in a vehicle.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cabin air temperature of parked vehicles in summer conditions: life-threatening environment for children and pets calculated by a dynamic model

Horak

Schmerold

Wimmer

et al. 2016

Theor Appl Climatol

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“…Some hyperthermia deaths due to solar heating have occurred at relatively low ambient temperatures (eg, 57°F/14°C, 60°F/16°C, 66°F/19°C, 67°F/19°C), however, the vehicular temperatures associated with those deaths is unknown 1. Climate researchers have created models to project maximum vehicle temperatures and human heat balance of a small child inside an enclosed vehicle 8 21 22. These models may be useful to medical examiners in estimating time of death and to child safety advocates in educating about the risks of leaving children unattended in vehicles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An enclosed vehicle may pose additional threat due to increased humidity (brought about by a child's evaporated sweat and respiration) which in turn reduces effectiveness of evaporative and perspiration-related cooling 8. While no universal ambient or vehicular temperature threshold exists for heat-related illness, the National Weather Service (NWS) issues advisories for daytime heat index at or exceeding 105°F (41°C) 9.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Threat of paediatric hyperthermia in an enclosed vehicle: a year-round study

et al. 2013

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ObjectiveTo describe temperature change throughout the workday in an enclosed vehicle in Austin, Texas across the calendar year while accounting for heat index.MethodsIn this observational study, vehicular temperature was measured 1 day per month during 2012 in Austin, Texas. Data were recorded at 5-min intervals via an EL-USB-1-PRO digital temperature sensor from 8:00 to 16:00. Selected days were primarily cloud-free (with ‘clear’ or ‘few clouds’) with a predicted ambient temperature high within ±20°F of the 30-year normal high. Referent temperature and 30-year normal data were collected via the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) weather station. The NWS heat index and corresponding hazard levels were used as a guideline for this study.ResultsPer NWS guidelines, the enclosed vehicle temperature rose to ‘danger’ levels of ≥105°F (41°C) in all months except January and December and to ‘extreme caution’ levels of ≥90°F (32°C) in every month of the year. In June, the vehicle rose to ≥105°F (41°C) by 9:25. The hottest vehicular temperature achieved was 137°F (58°C). In 9 months of the year, the vehicle reached ≥90°F (32°C) by noon. We also found that an ambient temperature as low as 68°F was associated with vehicular temperatures ≥105°F (41°C).ConclusionsInfants and children in states that experience mild winter temperatures face the threat of vehicular hyperthermia disability and death across the calendar year. Prevention efforts that focus on awareness of a childhood heat vulnerability, parental perception of susceptibility to forgetting a child in a vehicle and universal availability of vehicular safety devices may reduce paediatric vehicular hyperthermia death.

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“…Temperatures inside vehicles left in the sun during summer months have been extensively surveyed [1][2][3][4][5] and are well known to reach extremely large values, often in excess of 65 C. When driving a car just after such extreme conditions, the driver is at least initially exposed to a severe thermal environment characterized by very high air and radiant temperatures. Although the thermal environment severity in the vehicle drops due to declining air temperature associated to the inflowing outdoor air, radiant temperatures remain significantly larger than air temperatures for some time, since interior surfaces do not cool as quickly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%