Hot Playgrounds Can Seriously Injure Kids

Remember going to the playground as a kid and literally being blinded by the sun that was glowing off the metal slide and made the toy look like it was radioactive? Remember the scalding surface that made the back of your legs just seer as you soared in agony down the cooking surface? Well, the reality is, if it's hot outside, that playground equipment can be a real burn danger to kids.

An 80 degree day, even in cloudy weather, can equal a slide being heated up to 95+ degrees, which can pose a danger to children in the form of 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Dr. Abrams with Children's Hospital in Knoxville, TN, claims all it takes is 2 hours in the sun for playground equipment to pose a burn danger to kids. If the surface has reached 140 degrees, which is a reality for the surface of many playground equipment materials, it can take a mere 5 seconds or so for a burn to occur that is serious enough to land a child in the hospital for serious burns.

Dr Abrams advises parents to always test the surface of playground equipment first before allowing their children to play on the playground by placing their hand on the actual surface and seeing how hot it really is. Even on a cool day, if there is sun on the surface, it can be hot enough to burn.

If a child does get a mild burn, he also advises cool water or ice being placed on the burn site to ease the swelling and downplay the actual injury. However, if a more serious burn results from playground equipment, he advises seeking medical help to treat the burn.

Source:

http://www.volunteertv.com/health/headlines/95458129.html