In a closed car, its temperature rises very quickly, even in moderate outside temperatures, and can reach life-threatening levels in a short time. This can lead to heat stroke, the symptoms of which include dizziness, nausea, headache, rapid heart rate, and eventually loss of consciousness or death. Animals are particularly sensitive to heat as they cannot sweat like humans and thus overheat more quickly.


The temperature of the passenger compartment of a car parked in the sun it heats up to 50-60 °C in a few minutes, which can be fatal. In addition, children or pets left in a car parked in the sun can become stressed, which can make matters worse.

If someone notices that a person or animal is trapped in a parked car during the day, immediate help is needed, so it is important to know how to break a window safely:

  • Don’t try the windshield! The film in the front windshield makes it extremely strong and hard to break, but even if it cracks, it’s hard to put a hole in it.
  • We also avoid darkened, foiled side windows! They are also generally stronger than uncoated windows.
  • Let’s use the right tool! A hard and pointed object, such as a stone, can be used to break the side window. We can be successful even with a medium-sized pebble. Or a piece of ceramic can also be suitable, as long as you have one.
  • Let’s choose the right window! We break the window that is farthest from the passenger to avoid injuries.
  • Let’s protect ourselves! Have the helper wrap the hand with something, such as a cloth or towel, to prevent the glass shards from cutting you.

By following these tips, we can increase the chances of being able to quickly and safely help a person or animal suffering from heat stroke or stress.