With temperatures soaring
high into the nineties today and yesterday, the Central Massachusetts/Metrowest
area is in the thick of a potentially dangerous heat event.
Westboro Toyota wants you to know that when extreme heat strikes, it's important to be mindful of what’s acceptable and not acceptable to keep in your vehicle. The temperature inside a parked vehicle with the windows up could skyrocket to well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit because the heat that seeps in through the windows is immediately absorbed by the vehicle’s interior. The vehicle’s glass, which acts as an insulator, can, in some cases, cause the interior temperature to rise to as much as 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the Department of Geosciences, this year five children have died due to hyperthermia (heat stroke) from being in hot cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. In 2011, at least 33 kids suffered hyperthermia fatalities.
This is a needless tragedy that underscores the importance of never leaving a child or a pet in a hot vehicle.
Westboro Toyota wants you to know that when extreme heat strikes, it's important to be mindful of what’s acceptable and not acceptable to keep in your vehicle. The temperature inside a parked vehicle with the windows up could skyrocket to well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit because the heat that seeps in through the windows is immediately absorbed by the vehicle’s interior. The vehicle’s glass, which acts as an insulator, can, in some cases, cause the interior temperature to rise to as much as 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the Department of Geosciences, this year five children have died due to hyperthermia (heat stroke) from being in hot cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. In 2011, at least 33 kids suffered hyperthermia fatalities.
This is a needless tragedy that underscores the importance of never leaving a child or a pet in a hot vehicle.
Aside
from protecting the most precious cargo of all, human and animal life, here are
some tips Westboro Toyota has put together to help you stay safe and cool in
the hot summer sun:
1) Park
in the shade whenever possible, and park facing away from the direction in which the
sun is beating down on the vehicle.
2) Consider
adding a slight tint to your vehicles’ windows. Just be mindful of Massachusetts’
law when tinting the windows on your car, truck or SUV. Check how dark the tint
is compared to Visible Light
Transmission percentage (VLT%), which refers to the percentage of visible light
that comes through the film and window.
Keep in mind, too, that the non-reflective tint is allowed on the top six inches of the windshield only. Front-side, back-side, and rear windows must allow more than 35 percent of light in. Also, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has the authority to grant a waiver on the tinting requirements for valid medical reasons, so if you think you need the tint darker due to a medical concern, check with the RMV.
If your windows aren’t tinted, consider using a sunshade for your windshield.
3) Maintain your vehicle’s transmission and radiator fluids and oil, which is essential all year but especially crucial during the hot summer months. If you own or lease a vehicle adhere to the recommended service schedule in your vehicle owner’s manual and schedule a service appointment with Westboro Toyota if you have any concerns about how your vehicle is performing in the heat. Don't forget, we make it super easy to book your appointments with our handy, 24/7 online scheduler!
4) Travel with a cell phone, bottled water, a spare tire, emergency roadside and first-aid kits, in addition to non-perishable snacks, in case you become stranded on the roadway in the extreme heat.
Keep in mind, too, that the non-reflective tint is allowed on the top six inches of the windshield only. Front-side, back-side, and rear windows must allow more than 35 percent of light in. Also, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) has the authority to grant a waiver on the tinting requirements for valid medical reasons, so if you think you need the tint darker due to a medical concern, check with the RMV.
If your windows aren’t tinted, consider using a sunshade for your windshield.
3) Maintain your vehicle’s transmission and radiator fluids and oil, which is essential all year but especially crucial during the hot summer months. If you own or lease a vehicle adhere to the recommended service schedule in your vehicle owner’s manual and schedule a service appointment with Westboro Toyota if you have any concerns about how your vehicle is performing in the heat. Don't forget, we make it super easy to book your appointments with our handy, 24/7 online scheduler!
4) Travel with a cell phone, bottled water, a spare tire, emergency roadside and first-aid kits, in addition to non-perishable snacks, in case you become stranded on the roadway in the extreme heat.
5) Don’t leave perishable
food in your vehicle, such as candy
bars, milk products, meat, and other grocery items that will quickly spoil in
the heat. Also, try not to leave CDs and other items made from synthetic
materials in the vehicle, as they could melt under the beating sun. In addition,
be sure to remove anything that could potentially combust, such as aerosol cans of
hairspray or sunblock.
Stay cool and safe everyone!
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