Playgrounds pose safety concerns in heat

With more hours of sunlight, children are more likely to be heading to parks and playgrounds.  However with the significant heat blanketing Delmarva, the playground equipment can become a hazard if it’s in direct sunlight.

Jennifer Johnson of the Wicomico County Health Department says “if you are going to the playground with your children try to go earlier in the morning before it is the extreme heat in the middle of the day. So I would suggest going first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon.” Even then, temperatures could be a danger.  One burn incident reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) happened in a comfortable 74 degrees Fahrenheit.

One mother 47ABC caught up with at a local park says she always watches her kids while they’re playing.  However, in the summer it’s also important to take it a step further and physically touch the equipment before the children begin to play on it.

David Ford, a physician’s assistant at ExpressCare in Salisbury says it’s really a matter of common sense. “Use some good discretion while you do it and particularly if you have a very active toddler who’s just going to run and start jumping around on stuff then go check it first.” According to the CPSC, toddlers especially are at risk because of their sensitive skin.  Toddlers also may not have the reaction time that an older child does – leaving them to possibly stay on the hot equipment longer.

If a child does get burned, the reaction may be to get something cold on it, but Ford says that may not help the issue.  Rather, he says for minor burns where there is little skin disruption “a lukewarm bath” would help  rather than cold water because the cold water will make it feel better but not necessarily help. Ford says with cold water “really what you’re doing is you’re shunting blood away from it and the healing slows down.”

More information and safety tips can be found here: http://bit.ly/29vAaAK