EIGHT ITEMS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN CARS DURING HEATWAVE

Rooster Car Insurance has identified eight items that should not be left unattended in vehicles during periods of high temperature. The advisory comes as the Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for extreme heat across parts of England and Wales from 9am on Wednesday to 9pm on Thursday. The car insurance company stated that vehicles can reach temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in summer conditions. The warning applies as the UK experiences record June temperatures.

Electronic devices including mobile phones pose particular risks when exposed to heat, as high temperatures can damage lithium batteries, causing them to swell, leak or create fire hazards. Aerosol cans such as hairspray and deodorant can explode when heated. Bottled water stored in cars may leak chemicals from plastic containers when exposed to high temperatures. Sunglasses left in vehicles risk warping frames and damage to ultraviolet coatings. Medication can lose effectiveness and become unsafe when exposed to heat. Hand sanitiser presents a fire risk due to its alcohol content.

The RAC reported that breakdown callouts increased by approximately 20 per cent on the day the advisory was issued compared with a typical Monday in late June. The AA advised motorists to expect to see gritting vehicles deployed on roads. Rooster Car Insurance emphasised that the advisory applied "aside from the obvious including children and pets", which should never be left in vehicles during hot weather.