Hot Car Calculator

Calculate dangerous interior temperatures and child safety risks in parked vehicles

Calculate Hot Car Temperature

Most accurate for temperatures 20-50°C (68-122°F)

How long the car has been parked in the heat

Clear (0%)0%Overcast (100%)

Note: Partly open windows provide minimal safety improvement

Temperature Results

Car Interior Temperature

50.3°C
(122.5°F)
🔥 DANGEROUS

Child Body Temperature

40.0°C
(104.1°F)
💀 FATAL - CALL 911
🚨

MEDICAL EMERGENCY

Life-threatening hyperthermia. Call emergency services immediately!

Safety Analysis

Maximum interior temperature: 65.0°C (149.0°F) after 3+ hours

🚨 Extended exposure time. Extremely dangerous conditions for children and pets.

Real-World Examples

Mild Day Danger

Outside: 23°C (73°F) - Pleasant weather

After 1 hour: Interior reaches 48°C (118°F)

Risk: High hyperthermia risk for children

Hot Summer Day

Outside: 32°C (90°F) - Warm summer day

After 30 min: Interior reaches 55°C (131°F)

Risk: Life-threatening within minutes

Key Fact: Children die in hot cars even on 70°F (21°C) days. A child's body temperature can rise 3-5x faster than an adult's.

Emergency Actions

1

Call 911 Immediately

Don't wait - call emergency services first

2

Get Child Out

Break window if necessary (Good Samaritan laws protect you)

3

Cool Immediately

Use cool water, air conditioning, fan

4

Monitor Until Help Arrives

Check breathing, consciousness

Prevention Tips

Never leave children or pets in cars, even for "just a minute"

Put something important (phone, wallet) in back seat

Set reminders on your phone

Ask daycare to call if child doesn't arrive

Keep car doors locked so children can't enter

Critical Statistics

40+
Children die annually in hot cars (US)
54%
Were forgotten by caregiver
15 min
Time for brain damage in pets

Understanding Hot Car Dangers

Why Cars Get So Hot

Cars experience a greenhouse effect similar to global warming. Sunlight passes through windows (short wavelengths) and heats interior surfaces. These surfaces then emit heat as longer wavelengths that can't escape through glass, trapping heat inside.

Why Children Are Vulnerable

  • Body temperature rises 3-5x faster than adults
  • Higher surface area to body mass ratio
  • Less efficient sweating mechanism
  • Smaller blood volume for heat transfer

Heat Illness Progression

Heat Exhaustion

Heavy sweating, weakness, nausea

Heatstroke

High body temp, altered mental state, hot dry skin

Hyperthermia (>40°C/104°F)

Organ failure, death within hours

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes. Actual conditions vary. Never leave children or pets in cars. Seek immediate medical attention for heat-related illness.