Threat of paediatric hyperthermia in an enclosed vehicle: a year-round study.
Inj Prev
; 20(4): 220-5, 2014 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24246714
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To describe temperature change throughout the workday in an enclosed vehicle in Austin, Texas across the calendar year while accounting for heat index.METHODS:
In this observational study, vehicular temperature was measured 1â 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 800 to 1600. 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.RESULTS:
Per 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 925. The hottest vehicular temperature achieved was 137°F (58°C). In 9â 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).CONCLUSIONS:
Infants 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.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Motor Vehicles
/
Heat Stress Disorders
/
Hot Temperature
Type of study:
Observational_studies
Limits:
Child
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Inj Prev
Journal subject:
PEDIATRIA
/
TRAUMATOLOGIA
Year:
2014
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: