Heat Risks in Cars and Campers Prompt Safety Warnings

Temperatures inside parked vehicles rise rapidly on hot days, turning cars and campers into dangerous heat traps. A 2010 U.S. study found that when the outside temperature is 28 °C, the interior of a car can reach 35 °C in ten minutes and 44 °C after half an hour. Babies are especially vulnerable because they cannot regulate body heat, and the phenomenon known as “Forgotten Baby Syndrome” can lead parents to unintentionally leave a child in an overheated car.

The same greenhouse effect affects mobile homes. Interior temperatures of caravans or RVs can climb to 50–60 °C when sunlight penetrates the windows. A common mistake is placing reflective mats or blankets inside the vehicle; this does little to reduce heat. Effective protection requires shading the exterior—using reflective covers, sun‑blocking films, or external awnings—to keep the interior cooler. Animal‑leaving penalties of up to €25,000 underscore the seriousness of heat safety for all occupants.