Heat warning in Rostock: This is how your car becomes a deadly trap for children!

Heat warning in Rostock: This is how your car becomes a deadly trap for children!

In the coming days, people in Germany will have to prepare for high temperatures. The city of Rostock will issue an official heat warning via its app as early as August 14th. The German Weather Service warns that temperatures will rise above 30 °C in large parts of Germany, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Only the islands of Rügen and Usedom as well as the cities of Greifswald, Anklam and Ueckermünde remain exempt from this warning Uckermark courier reported.

Particular caution is required when it comes to leaving children and pets in the car. The Automobile Club Traffic (ACV) explains that the risk of leaving a child or animal in a parked car increases enormously on these hot days. Vehicles can become extremely hot due to sunlight – almost like a greenhouse. For example, if the outside temperature is 24 °C, the inside of the car can rise to 31 °C after just 10 minutes and reach 40 °C after 30 minutes. If the outside temperature is 30 °C, that's already 46 °C after half an hour and even 56 °C after an hour. Even in the shade, the interior can heat up considerably, which poses a further health risk Press portal points out.

The danger to life in the car

Children and animals are particularly at risk at these temperatures. While children have a harder time regulating their body temperature, animals, especially dogs, use panting to cool themselves. These methods are often not sufficient to prevent heat stroke in extreme heat, which can have dire consequences. A study shows that heatstroke mortality in dogs is up to 60 percent. An example from recent news: In May 2024, a 16-month-old child died in Alsace because the father forgot to leave the child in the crèche, while in Zweibrücken the police forcibly opened a car in which a baby was trapped SWR reported.

In addition to the acute danger in the car, there are other mechanisms that drivers should take into account in hot weather. It is recommended to check the vehicle for accessibility, identify the responsible people in the area and, in an emergency, call the emergency number (112). Witnesses to the situation should be involved, and failure to provide assistance may result in criminal penalties.

Protective measures and legal aspects

It is also important to know how to act preventively to minimize the risk. The ACV recommends opening the windows while the cooling system is running and gives suggestions on how to cool the interior, for example by covering child seats with white cloths or by attaching sun protection films. Ultimately, if there is an acute need for action, the car window can also be broken in order to save lives. This happens legally without consequences as long as an emergency can be proven.

In Germany, the penalties for leaving children or animals in a car are also not negligible. Leaving children behind can result in prison sentences of up to five years, while animals face fines and penalties of up to three years if they are inadequately cared for in extreme heat. With the hot temperatures coming our way, it is worth considering these questions and statements to ensure we handle the situation responsibly.