When you drop your kids off at daycare, knowing they’ll enjoy the playground that day, a parent will apply enough sunscreen on their child’s delicate skin, and ensure they’re wearing appropriate clothes and a sun hat.

It’s probably unlikely that you’d think twice that the playground equipment itself would be hazardous to their children’s safety and health.

But that’s exactly what happened to one mom and her son.

Burns on toddler’s hands

Ashley Elizabeth Brown added a photo of her son after attending La Petite Academy in Cleveland, Tennessee:

“See these burns on MY 14 MONTH OLD SON’S hands? This is a result of him going down a slide at his daycare outside, in 90 degree weather, and landing on the rubber mat at the bottom of the slide.”

She posted photos on Facebook of the second degree burns her 14-month-old son suffered as a result of them burning on daycare playground equipment, heating up due to the sweltering summer sun.

“What does plastic/rubber equipment do in the sun? IT HEATS UP BEYOND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. What happens when you put your skin on extremely hot surfaces? IT BURNS. “

“Where were his teachers? Why didn’t anyone think to check with their own hands how hot those surfaces were, knowing that babies (that tumble down every now and then) were playing there? Why was he even outside in that heat in the first place? I have NEVER heard a child scream and cry like that, let alone MY OWN SON. This is one mama bear that you do not mess with.”

Metal Equipment

Metal equipment such as monkey bars and slides can easily become hot to the touch, but plastic or resin can as well.

Daycare workers should always check the equipment before allowing toddlers and children to play. How is it possible these daycare workers didn’t notice how hot it was that day, or how hot the equipment was?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received reports of 30 playground thermal burns in 7 years. Ten injuries were associated with plastic, rubber or other nonmetal surfaces which can soar above 100 degrees in direct sunlight.

A toddler and young child’s skin is thinner and delicate and can burn in just a few seconds.

Always check the equipment before going on. And make sure your kids aren’t barefoot as well; asphalt and concrete around playgrounds can get very hot and result in burns to the feet.

The CPSC says keep an eye out for uncoated metal equipment or metal equipment where the heat-reducing coating rubbed off. Also, dark colored plastics or rubber can get very hot and pose a burn threat to children.

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Source http://www.hotmomsclub.com/

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