Be careful about letting children play on your apartment complex's or neighborhood playground when it's hot outside. Playground equipment can heat up quickly and retain the heat easily, causing serious burns to skin upon contact. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), young children are particularly at risk of second- and third-degree burns because they don't react by pulling away from hot surfaces as quickly as older children do.
If you have kids of your own or sometimes have children visit you at your apartment, follow these precautions to prevent playground burns on hot, sunny days:
- Test surfaces. Metal slides, poles, and other playground equipment are most likely to pose burn risks, particularly if the equipment is exposed to direct sunlight. Place your hand on metal and other surfaces to check for burn risks. Use your best judgment to determine whether it's safe. If you can comfortably keep your hand on the surface for a slow count of five, it's probably safe to let children play there.
- Don't forget mats. Many playgrounds come with some variety of adjacent or interlocking safety mats, which help prevent serious injury in the event of a fall (as compared to a rough, hard surface such as concrete). Ironically, these "safety" mats have been known to cause burn injuries to the soles of children's feet on scorchingly hot days. To make things worse, these mats are often black or another dark color, which optimizes heat retention.
Check the surface of these mats for burn risks. Several communities now require signage in playgrounds to warn parents and guardians of this risk and encourage them to require children to wear shoes at all times. However, if mats are dangerously hot, keep in mind that even kids who wear shoes can still suffer burns if they kneel or sit on the mats.
- Play it safe. When it's really hot outside, opt for a playground that's shaded (by trees or nearby buildings) and doesn't have many metal surfaces or heat-retaining mats that can cause serious burns. This will save you time and prevent children's disappointment because you won't need to pack up and leave a playground after discovering a burn risk. On milder days, let your kids enjoy any playgrounds you've been avoiding.
