Keep your car cool this summer

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June 23, 2012

Keep your car cool this summer

Janna Kelley OSU Extension Educator The Ada News The Ada Evening News Sat Jun 23, 2012, 09:17 AM CDT

Ada —

It is no secret that Oklahoma gets hot - really hot - in the summer. Unfortunately, staying indoors in the air conditioning all the time is not a practical option to avoid the heat.

In order to get to work or run errands, most people take their car. First and foremost, never leave a child or your pet in a car under any circumstances. Even with the windows cracked or down, the interior of the car will still heat up and become dangerous or deadly. If you happen to see a child or an animal left in a car, immediately call 911.

In an effort to keep your car as cool as possible during the heat of the summer, try to park in the shade. If there is no shade available, such as in an office parking lot, park the vehicle so that the rear window is facing the sun. You also can purchase shades for the side windows of your vehicle to help keep your passengers cool. Windshield covers help keep harmful rays out of your car. There’s no doubt that it will still be hot in your car, but the temperature will be less than if no sunshade is used. If the interior of your car is cooler, it will reduce the amount of time you need to run your air conditioning on high in an attempt to cool down the car more quickly. This can save on gas, too.

To help avoid putting yourself in the “hot seat,” place towels or use cloth seat covers on leather seats. Something else to be very aware of is the metal seatbelt buckle. These buckles can get extremely hot and easily burn you or a passenger. Always help young children get buckled up safely to help them avoid getting burned. Watch the buckle on the chest strap on car seats, too.

Drivers also need to keep in mind not to leave items in their vehicles. The sun and heat in the car can adversely affect CDs, DVDs, cell phones and other electronic equipment. If these items are not used regularly, it is best to keep them in the house and only put them in your vehicle when they are going to be used.

Don’t kid yourself. The inside of your car will definitely be hot this summer, but by implementing some of these tips you can lower the temperature a few degrees.

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