Here are six items you shouldn’t leave in your car when it’s freezing outside:
Aerosol cans: Extreme temperatures can cause aerosol cans to “become unstable” and potentially break or explode.
Canned beverages and foods: Canned goods that freeze can present health risks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says cans can swell if the food inside expands when its frozen — or because of a bacteria — so you should discard them. Cans that are not swollen but have thawed out are also unsafe and should be discarded, per USDA.
Beverages can also expand inside their containers when frozen, leading to cracks or breakage.
Eggs: Eggs should not be frozen in their shells.
“If an egg accidentally freezes and the shell cracked during freezing, discard the egg. Keep any uncracked eggs frozen until needed; then thaw in the refrigerator.”
Electronics: Leaving electronics, like your cell phone or tablet, in a freezing car can impact how they function.
Some manufacturers − like Apple and Samsung − recommend you don’t expose products to extreme temperatures at all, since most devices work best when used at temperatures above 32 degrees.
Medications: Medicine is another item that should not be frozen. When medications do freeze accidentally, there’s no visual indicators that they’re still safe to take.
In general, any liquid medication in a “suspended state” will likely be negatively affected if it’s frozen.
AARP recommends reaching out to your provider or pharmacist if you have questions on your medication’s storage.
Loved ones: This should be obvious. But it’s worth noting that children and elderly people can be more susceptible to hypothermia at cold temperatures, with symptoms such as shivering, confusion and exhaustion. So even limited amounts of time in an unheated vehicle could be dangerous. The same goes for pets.