Firefighters warn public on the hazards of leaving water bottles in vehicles

The hot weather and high temperatures can have a range of effects on people’s everyday life. It is widely known that prolonged exposure to heat can lead to heatstroke, which is why it is recommended to avoid being under direct sunlight for longer periods of time. At the same time, it is essential to stay hydrated and limit strenuous activities during the hottest parts of the day.

This weather can also significantly increase the risk of fires.

Dry heat, strong winds, and low humidity represent ideal conditions for a fire to start. One way of accidentally starting a fire is by leaving water bottles inside a vehicle during high heat. The reason why is that the bottles, especially if they are translucent, can act as magnifying lenses if exposed to high temperatures, focusing sunlight and creating concentrated beams of light.

When light enters a clear or translucent bottle, it can be focused and intensified into a concentrated heat spot. This concentrated heat can build up on nearby flammable materials, like paper or fabric, and potentially ignite them, leading to a fire withing minutes.

This is why firefighters urge people not to leave water bottles inside their vehicle.

In July 2017, Dioni Amuchastegui, a battery technician with Idaho Power, noticed smoke emerging from beneath the center console of his truck during his lunch break.

“At first I thought it was dust, but the window was rolled up so there was no wind,” he shared with Today. “Then I noticed that light was being refracted through a water bottle and it was actually smoke.”

Amuchastegui was quick to get rid of the bottle and prevent fire from starting.

He told his story to his colleagues at Idaho Power and they came up with the idea of filming a video and warning people of the potential dangers of a simple act of leaving a water bottle inside the car when the temperatures are high.

What Can Happen to Your Body If You Drink Coffee First Thing in the Morning

A group of researchers from the University of Nevada-Reno discovered that coffee grounds can be used as biodiesel, and quite possibly in the near future, your car fumes will smell like a cup of freshly brewed cappuccino. But that very first cup of coffee that fuels most of us in the morning may not be the best way to start your day. In fact, doctors believe the best time to enjoy your cup of java is mid- to late-morning, between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

We at Bright Side usually look forward to our first cup of coffee in the morning, but the effects it can have on your body when you drink it on an empty stomach can be a true wake-up call.

1. You may feel sleepier.

Coffee is a wake-up drink for many of us, but drinking it as soon as you roll out of bed may have the opposite effect. Caffeine doubles the levels of stress hormones and may lead to problems with sleep, which results in tiredness. If you start your day with a cup of cappuccino with sugar, you might feel sleepy again after a short period of time. This happens because our body produces insulin to offset the sugar, causing your blood glucose levels to drop, which results in a lack of energy and anxiety.

2. Your body may lose essential minerals more quickly.

Having your regular dose of coffee early in the morning can cause you to lose many essential vitamins and minerals. It can sabotage the absorption of iron, magnesium, and B vitamins which are vital to our nervous system. Too much caffeine can also leach calcium from your bones, making them weak and brittle.

3. It may upset your stomach.

While your beloved beverage will help you to wake up in the morning, it may also give you the urge to use the bathroom more often. In fact, some medical experts even recommend drinking coffee as a way to prepare for certain exams. Coffee activates our nervous system, which in turn affects the colon and may cause diarrhea. Many people also like adding milk or cream to their morning cup of java, and because most of us have difficulty digesting lactose, it may cause stomach discomfort as well.

4. It may lead to weight gain.

Although black coffee may help you burn fat, it can also upset your healthy sleep patterns. When you don’t get enough sleep, you tend to feel hungrier and have more cravings for sweet snacks. Many coffee beverages, like popular sweetened blends, are packed with sugar and calories and might cause you to gain extra pounds.

5. It can worsen anxiety.

When you wake up in the morning, your stress hormones levels are usually at their highest. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it gives your body a jittery effect and can even trigger anxiety attacks for some people.

6. It can dry out your skin.

Because coffee makes you use the restroom more often, it dehydrates your body. When you become dehydrated, it’s harder for toxins to exit the body through your skin. This, in turn, dries the skin out and makes it more vulnerable to various problems, like premature wrinkles.

7. It may raise your blood sugar level.

Your morning cup of coffee makes it harder for your cells to regulate blood sugar, which can lead to various diseases. High blood sugar, in turn, can lead to weight gain and even raise your risk of skin infections.

When do you usually drink your first cup of coffee? Have you noticed any of these side effects?

Preview photo credit Shutterstock.com

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