Why hot cars can kill your child

CNN meteorologist says on average, 38 children die each year while trapped in hot cars

Hot cars can be fatal and prove deadly very quickly for children, the elderly and animals inside.

The inside of a car heats up much more quickly than the outside according to CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. "On average, 38 children die each year while trapped in hot cars."



In fact, it is so harmful that considering it a non issue is 'sinful'. "Think you can just run into the store for two minutes? Don't do it," Javaheri said.

Consider a dog locked inside on a hot day with the owner no where in sight. Any responsible citizen would want to (or should) act to free the animal before it dies. But who wants to get arrested for breaking a car window to come to the dog's rescue? While there are no laws justifying such actions elsewhere, Samaritan laws in Tennessee, USA allows people to break into a hot car to free a child(ren) and animals in 'danger'.

People who notify law enforcement and attempt to find the owner will be protected from civil liability if they damage a car in an attempt to rescue an animal or child in danger. "If you act reasonably, as any reasonable person would respond, you will not be at fault to save a life," Nashville Fire Department Chief of Staff Mike Franklin told WKRN. "You will not be at any fault to save a life and/or animals."



"On a pleasant 75-degree day (outside), the inside of your car can heat up to 90 degrees in just two minutes. Within 20 minutes, the inside temperature can rise to 104 degrees. After an hour, it can hit 120 degrees!"  Pedram Javaheri said.

This article originally appeared on CNN.