Three items you should never leave in your motor during a heatwave…and two you should always keep
Drivers have been warned over three items that you should never leave in your car during a heatwave – as well as two you should always keep.
Temperatures are set to soar this week, with forecasters predicting that Brits will bask in 31C sunshine.
However, the hot weather has been accompanied by a yellow health alert covering most of England, with the UK Health Security Agency urging sun-seekers to be cautious in the heat.
And with plenty of traffic expected, not least as 200,000 fans descend on Glastonbury, drivers are being asked to take similar precautions.
That includes making sure to remove some common objects from your motor for safety reasons.
Remove: Medicine
Many motorists might not realise that most common medicines actually have a heat limit.
Common over-the-counter products like paracetamol are usually rated to around 25C, reports The Express.
Given that, according to the US Center for Disease Control, just an hour on a 26C day can see the mercury inside your car top 50C, this could render the medication useless.
Make sure to check the label to see if your medication is rated to a higher temperature or ask your GP if it is prescribed, especially if you require it to treat a specific health condition.
Keep: Sunshades
Reflective sunshades can be a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your car cool while it’s parked up.
Not everyone is able to find a bay in the shade and stopping under a tree can bring its own issues with dripping sap and divebombing pigeons.
A silver sunshade is a cheap and easy way to block out the worst of the heat if you do have to park in the sun.
Halfords sells a large windscreen shade for just £7, while you can also pick up a pair of smaller window shades for £3.33.
Remove: Bottled water
Now, of course, you should always carry bottled water with you on a hot day.
Dehydration can be dangerous to your health and can also cause drowsiness and loss of focus behind the wheel.
However, if you have bought a disposable plastic water bottle, it’s best to take it with you when you get out of the vehicle.
Not only can the intense heat inside the car make your water unpleasantly warm, it can cause the chemicals in the plastic, notably a compound called polyethylene terephthalate (PET), to seep into it.
The health impacts of this are not fully known but it can alter the taste and colour of the water, according to Food Safety News.
Keep: A fan
When you hop into the driver’s seat on a sunny day it can be sweltering for the first few minutes before the air con kicks in.
A handheld, motorised fan is ideal for beating the heat if you don’t have AC or while you let it get to work.
It can also be passed around to passengers to keep them cool on long hot drives.
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Keep out of the heat if you can.
If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
Cool yourself down.
Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
Keep your living space cool.
Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.
Just make sure to only use the fan as a driver when stationary and always keep two hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road when moving.
And if you do have air con, you can use some of SunMotors’ expert hacks to boost its power.
For example, just yesterday we revealed a four-step guide to chill your motor for free in just 40 seconds.
Remove: Suncream
As with water, it’s definitely a good idea to have some sunblock on hand but make sure not to leave it in the car for an extended period.
Just like medication, overheating can reduce the cream’s effectiveness.
And it can also cause a build-up of pressure inside the bottle which could even cause it to pop, resulting in a tricky cleanup.
If you do leave your suncream in the heat then you should replace it as you would if it was out of date.