What Not to Leave in a Hot Car: Louisiana Summer Safety Guide

It is no secret that this Northwest Louisiana heat has been completely unforgiving lately. I know I am definitely not the only one who winces at the mere thought of wearing shorts when you have leather truck seats. Sitting down only to instantly scorch the back of your legs on leather that has been baking in the sun all afternoon is a special kind of pain. I literally keep towels in my truck just to avoid it!

Unfortunately, it looks like the heat is about to crank up even higher across the Ark-La-Tex. The National Weather Service in Shreveport issued a stern warning for our region, noting that heat indices could climb as high as 110 to 113 degrees. They are urging everyone to take serious precautions if you have to spend any time outdoors.

While we all know the big, absolute non-negotiables, never leaving kids, pets, or groceries in a hot vehicle, there is another hidden danger we tend to overlook. Extreme car heat can quietly ruin or alter everyday items you leave in your console or glove box, making them unsafe or totally useless to use later.

Here are a few common items you need to haul inside immediately before they're completely ruined:

Medicines and Vitamins: Extreme heat alters chemical formulas, causing medications to degrade and lose their effectiveness.

Sunscreen: High temperatures break down the active protective ingredients, leaving you completely unprotected against UV rays.

Hand Sanitizer: The alcohol evaporates quickly in a hot vehicle, drastically lowering its germ-killing power.

Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles: Heat speeds up the process of harmful chemicals leaching out of the plastic and straight into your drinking water.

Eyeglasses and Sunglasses: Intense heat trapped on your dashboard can warp plastic frames and peel protective lens coatings.

Lip Balm and Cosmetics: Melting is bad enough, but heat also spoils formulas and creates a massive, ruined mess.

Keep those vehicle cabs cleared out, throw a towel over those leather seats, and stay cool out there!