Each year in the U.S., an average of 38 children and hundreds of dogs die from hyperthermia (heatstroke) in hot cars. While our initial reaction may be these are cases of blatant cruelty or negligence, the truth is many are due to tragic error on the part of otherwise loving, competent caregivers. The point? Yes, it's possible this could happen to you.
There are a couple of misconceptions that contribute to these tragic episodes. First, there's the assumption that if it's cool outside, it can't get very hot inside, and this is not accurate. It can be a mere 70 degrees outside, and on a sunny day a car can reach 100 degrees within 15 minutes. The perception that 'cracking the windows' will somehow keep the temperature in a safe range is another dangerous myth – open windows have little effect on internal car temperatures on a sunny day. Body temperatures for children and dogs rise three to five times faster than an adult's, and brain damage or death can occur in a matter of minutes.