Hi Mark, yes I have admitted I probably sound preachy but what should I do? I gave an example of fully grown adults sitting in their vehicles with the engine running oblivious to how damaging it is to the environment all so that they don’t have to get out and stay cool in the shade. It’s just irresponsible behaviour in my opinion.I appreciate your references to studies on dehydration. So many comments on this forum have absolutely no factual references to back them up that it’s refreshing to see, so thanks again. I notice one is from American Academy of Pediatrics, and I would add that as far as children’s safety goes, especially very young children, I’m going to defer to the parents or carers. It wasn’t quite clear initially that you were referring to children in the car. Of course idling cars are just as detrimental to health (‘the pollution from an idling car tends to gather a metre off the ground, so children are particularly vulnerable’, https://www.solihull.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/air-quality-overview/vehicle-idling) however, as you rightly say, life is full of nuance and the need to compromise.Interestingly, I have read before about the effects of air-conditioning and how it can contribute to dehydration. This is probably something many people don’t realise. I only really first noticed it when wearing contact lenses in air-conditioned places, and they would dry out and get stuck to my eyeballs. I suppose the lesson here drinking water is the best way to avoid the symptoms of dehydration you mentioned, whether in a hot place or an air-conditioned one. (https://www.fundacionmapfre.org/en/blog/keeping-children-well-hydrated-when-travelling/)Cars get very hot inside, I know. Although rather than ‘cracking a window open’, why not open all of them fully? Just an idea.
Dominik Klimowski ● 17d