Louisiana drivers warned not to leave these 10 everyday items in parked cars as June heat builds

LOUISIANA (KNOE) – As June temperatures climb across Louisiana, safety experts are warning drivers to take certain everyday items out of their vehicles every time they park.

NOAA climate normals show typical June highs reach about 90°F in New Orleans, 91°F in Baton Rouge and 93°F in Shreveport. Research from Arizona State University found a car parked in direct sunlight on an 80°F day can reach 120°F inside within an hour. Dashboard temperatures can top 165°F on a 95°F afternoon.

That means a quick stop at a gas station in Monroe, a grocery run in Arkansas or a school pickup in Mississippi can damage belongings, spoil medicine and food, and increase the risk of a fire.

Below are 10 items Louisiana drivers should remove from their cars when they park.

1) Aerosol cans

Products such as hairspray, deodorant, spray sunscreen, dry shampoo and spray paint are pressurized. Many aerosol labels warn against temperatures above 120°F, a level ASU testing shows a vehicle can reach within 60 minutes on an 80°F day.

2) Medication

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says many medicines should be stored between 68°F and 77°F. Insulin products commonly carry guidance to stay below 86°F once in use. A 2024 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology study found EpiPens lost 41.6% of epinephrine potency after three months at 122°F.

Drivers should not leave inhalers, antibiotics, thyroid medication, birth control or emergency allergy injectors in the glovebox.

3) Sunscreen

The FDA warns sunscreen containers should be kept out of excessive heat and direct sun. High heat can break down active ingredients, leaving users with less protection than the SPF label suggests.

4) Food and groceries

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says perishable food should not sit in the 40°F to 140°F “danger zone” for more than two hours — or more than one hour when the outside temperature is above 90°F.

That one-hour limit can arrive quickly during Louisiana summers, especially for eggs, dairy, meat and seafood.

5) Eyewear

High heat can damage plastic frames and some lens coatings. Many optical materials become vulnerable once temperatures rise above about 130°F. ASU testing shows dashboards can exceed 165°F on a 95°F day, hot enough to warp frames or harm polarized, photochromic and anti-reflective coatings.

6) Lighters and matches

Disposable butane lighters often carry warnings to keep them away from heat above 50°C (122°F). That is below the dashboard temperatures measured in parked-car heat studies, making a lighter left near a windshield a preventable fire risk.

7) Glasses cases and clear water bottles

Fire services have warned that clear bottles and other magnifying objects can focus sunlight onto upholstery or paper. In demonstrations, focused sunlight has been measured above 200°F, which can scorch vehicle interiors.

8) Important documents

Passports, Social Security cards, laminated IDs, parking tickets and thermal receipts can warp, fade or blacken in extreme heat. Thermal paper commonly reacts around 150°F, a temperature that can be reached on a dashboard on a hot summer afternoon.

9) Pets and children

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says an average of 38 children die in hot cars in the U.S. each year, and KidsAndCars.org has tracked more than 1,170 child hot-car deaths since 1990.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that on a 70°F day, a car can reach 89°F within 10 minutes and 104°F within 30 minutes.

Louisiana law allows certain emergency rescue actions for children or animals in distress, but safety groups stress the simplest rule: Never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle, even briefly.

10) Lithium-ion devices (including vapes)

Devices such as vapes, phones, laptops, power banks and e-bike batteries use lithium-ion cells that are generally designed to operate safely up to around 140°F — below the dashboard heat recorded in summer car tests.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) logged 89 lithium-battery incidents on U.S. aircraft in 2024, including 15 involving vapes or e-cigarettes. Anker recalled more than 1.1 million PowerCore 10000 power banks in 2025 over overheating risks.

Shane Margereson of Ecigone, which works with vape and lithium-battery products, said drivers should watch for warning signs such as swelling, a sweet chemical smell, discoloration or a device feeling warm when it has not been used.

“The simplest rule of all: treat it like your phone,” Margereson said. “Never leave it on the dashboard, in the glovebox or in direct sunlight.”

Heat-safety reminder

If you must leave items in a vehicle, move them out of direct sun, keep them low in the cabin, and shorten stop times. When possible, take heat-sensitive products inside with you.