The 16 Items That Could Be Destroyed in Your Car by the East Texas Heat

(Longview, Texas) - Summer hasn't even gotten started in East Texas and already our cars are hot when get into them at the end of the day. That means when the days get to 90°, 95° or even 100°, our cars are gonna be ovens. Make sure your vehicle's AC is working good.

With that extreme heat means there are some dangers we could be leaving in our vehicles. Stuff like a water bottle that can act as a magnifying glass for the sun and possibly start a fire. The leftover food from lunch that'll spoil and stink up your vehicle. There are other items we should never leave in our car or truck during the summer.

Never Leave Your Child or a Pet in a Locked Car

This goes without saying but never, EVER, leave a person, a child, or a pet in a parked car with the windows up without the air conditioning going. Just as an example, on a mild summer day with a temperature of 85°, within 30 minutes of sitting in the sun, the internal temperature can get to around 119°. On a 100° day, the internal temperature of your vehicle can reach 134° in that same 30-minute window.

That's hot and very dangerous. For those that are new here, the heat is no joke in East Texas. But despite all the warnings and all the facts that are handed out, we still hear of the tragic death of a child or adult who is killed because they were left in a hot car.

Weekend Errands During the Summer

As we do on a weekend, we will get out of the house to run some errands. That way we can do some shopping, get some supplies for yard work or get the mower filled up. All three of those examples could turn into an annoying or dangerous incident.

For example, DO NOT leave any electronics in your vehicle. The heat can destroy the components inside making the device inoperable. DO NOT leave cleaning supplies or chemicals in your car as those could ignite. People do this so we have to say it, DO NOT leave a gas can in your car as the high heat could ignite the gas.

East Texas Summer Heat

The East Texas heat does not play around. If you have to be outside for any extended period of time, have water on hand to keep yourself hydrated. The water doesn't have to be cold, either.

Be sure to take frequent breaks either inside in the air conditioning or in the shade. Wear long sleeves and pants, but make sure they are loose-fitting, to protect your skin from the sun. Wear sunscreen when swimming and reapply it regularly to protect your skin.

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