How Hot Does It Get in a Closed Up Car?

We’ve heard the warnings: “Don’t leave your pets or your kids inside your car on hot days.”

But, since it seems to keep happening, (Did you see this story about a Good Samaritan smashing a car window in Kansas to save a sweltering baby left inside?) I assume people either believe the temperatures inside the car are exaggerated or they think their child or pet can handle it.

Wrong and wrong.

In summer 2013, I decided to make myself into a “pet” and headed to my car with a thermometer just to see how bad it really got. No, this isn’t a scientifically rigorous experiment, but I think you’ll get the point.

So how hot did it get in 25 minutes? Check out the video ... and keep in mind that I conducted this experiment at about 10 a.m. on a 90-degree day.

(By the way, no dogs were harmed in the making of this video. My pup was safely at home seated next to the window unit.)