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Evaluating infant core temperature response in a hot car using a heat balance model

Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology volume 11, pages 13–19 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Using a 1-year old male infant as the model subject, the objectives of this study were to measure increased body temperature of an infant inside an enclosed vehicle during the work day (8:00 am–4:00 pm) during four seasons and model the time to un-compensable heating, heat stroke [>40 °C (>104 °F)], and critical thermal maximum [>42 °C (>107.6 °F)].

Methods

A human heat balance model was used to simulate a child’s physiological response to extreme heat exposure within an enclosed vehicle. Environmental variables were obtained from the nearest National Weather Service automated surface observing weather station and from an observational vehicular temperature study conducted in Austin, Texas in 2012.

Results

In all four seasons, despite differences in starting temperature and solar radiation, the model infant reached heat stroke and demise before 2:00 pm. Time to heat stroke and demise occurred most rapidly in summer, at intermediate durations in fall and spring, and most slowly in the winter. In August, the model infant reached un-compensable heat within 20 min, heat stroke within 105 min, and demise within 125 min. The average rate of heating from un-compensable heat to heat stroke was 1.7 °C/h (3.0 °F/h) and from heat stroke to demise was 4.8 °C/h (8.5 °F/h).

Conclusions

Infants left in vehicles during the workday can reach hazardous thermal thresholds quickly even with mild environmental temperatures. These results provide a seasonal analogue of infant heat stroke time course. Further effort is required to create a universally available forensic tool to predict vehicular hyperthermia time course to demise.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, The University of Georgia, Geography-Geology Bldg, 210 Field Street, 30602, Athens, Georgia, USA

    Andrew J. Grundstein

  2. Trauma Services, Dell Children’s Medical Center, 4900 Mueller Boulevard, Austin, TX, 78723, USA

    Sarah V. Duzinski

  3. Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office, P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX, 78767, USA

    David Dolinak

  4. Department of Meteorology and Climate Science, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA, 95192, USA

    Jan Null

  5. Emergency Medicine, Dell Children’s Medical Center, 4900 Mueller Boulevard, Austin, TX, USA

    Sujit S. Iyer

Authors
  1. Andrew J. Grundstein
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  2. Sarah V. Duzinski
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  3. David Dolinak
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  4. Jan Null
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  5. Sujit S. Iyer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah V. Duzinski.

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Grundstein, A.J., Duzinski, S.V., Dolinak, D. et al. Evaluating infant core temperature response in a hot car using a heat balance model. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 11, 13–19 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-014-9619-7

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Keywords

  • Pediatric vehicular hyperthermia
  • Heat stroke
  • Injury prevention
  • Child passenger safety
  • Heat budget modeling