“‘A car can be a protective bubble in winter, but when it sits unheated, it’s more like a refrigerator and sometimes a pressure chamber,’ says a company spokesperson. ‘Materials contract, liquids expand, and batteries slow down. The effect is that a few “normal” things left behind can become unsafe, unusable, or simply unreliable.’
The dangers are more than just an inconvenience. Some of the problems that can be caused by cold weather are immediate (a burst pipe, a dead phone). Others are not so easy to recognize, such as medications that appear to be in good condition but do not work.
1. Aerosol cans
Aerosol cans are designed to withstand the pressure inside, and large temperature variations will put a strain on this process. In a very cold car, the can and the seal on it may be damaged, increasing the likelihood of a break and a messy or potentially hazardous spill when the can warms up. Any item that is pressurized should be kept inside in cold weather.
2. Canned foods and canned drinks
Freezing canned products can cause the contents to expand to the point of stressing the seams and lids, even if the can never appears “dramatically” damaged. Instructions for cans that have been accidentally frozen include that swelling, rusted seams, or bursts are indicators to discard the product, and that thawed canned products should never be sampled to “check” for safety. Beverages in cans or bottles may also expand and break their containers, turning a cup holder into a spill area.
3. Eggs (especially those in shells)
Eggs don’t act like other foods in the cold. Food safety advice says that shell eggs should not be frozen. If an egg is frozen and the shell cracks, it should be thrown away. Even eggs that aren’t broken can change when they’re frozen, and the yolks will be thick and difficult to work with.
4. Phones, tablets, and other electronics
Low temperatures cause chemical reactions in lithium-ion batteries to slow down, which may cause the device to drain its battery faster or shut down. Some of the manufacturer recommendations include the fact that performance may be affected below 32°F, and charging the device when it is below freezing may damage the battery. Some of the cold-weather operating tips include storing the device in an inner pocket near the body and allowing it to warm up before charging.
5. Medications
Many drugs are designed to remain within a small range of “room temperature,” and both hot and cold temperatures can affect their potency. The storage goal that is often mentioned is between 59°F and 77°F, and freezing is a special concern for things like insulin and other temperature-sensitive medications.
Perhaps the most frightening aspect, however, is that there may not be any obvious visual indicator that anything is amiss, and according to Baystate Health, there is no way to determine visually whether previously frozen medication is still usable.
6. Children, older adults, and pets
A car parked in the cold will lose heat rapidly, and sensitive passengers can chill faster than expected. Prolonged exposure to the cold can increase the risk of hypothermia, and the time spent in an unheated car can be dangerous, especially for young children and older adults.
Pets are also at risk. The advice from veterinarians is that a “cold car becomes like a refrigerator” and can quickly chill animals, especially those that are young, old, ill, or thin, which corresponds with the warning about cold cars and pets. Winter driving routines are usually centered around convenience: having snacks on hand, carrying a spare charger, keeping a bag in the back seat “for later.” When it’s cold enough to freeze water, it’s the little things that make the difference between avoiding the sorts of cold damage that are hard to spot and hard to fix.
