Parents have been given a dire warning about an unexpected danger on playgrounds this summer.
A Kidsafe NSW expert and parent said a surface temperature of more than 50C is very dangerous for children, and playgrounds often exceed that temperature.
On a summer day where the air temperature is 33°C, the surface temperature of playground equipment can reach 105°C.
“With global warming raising temperatures and La Nina on the East Coast, children’s environments have been terribly affected,” Nic Seton, CEO of Parents for the climatehe told FEMAIL.
‘Sun, The heat and humidity on a non-hot day create terribly unsafe conditions. I tested the temperatures in my local park in Sydney’s inner west and found them reaching 70C at 4pm.’
A Kidsafe NSW expert and parent said a surface temperature of more than 50C is very dangerous for children, and playgrounds often exceed that temperature.
He urged all parents to ensure their children have adequate thermal protection in the form of hats, loose clothing and plenty of water to stay hydrated. Signs that children are overheated include dehydration and excessive sweating, headaches, and dry mouth.
The father of two children lives near the popular Camperdown Memorial Park, which is visited by hundreds of Sydneysiders every day.
He tested the temperature and found that the swings were at 36°C, the spring was at 41°C, and the stairs to the slides were at 54°C.
“The slide itself is 70°C, so you’ll get third-degree burns if you go down,” the father said.
‘If it were a weekday, our children would come home from school and want to play on the playground, and their expectation is that this would be safe.
‘Unfortunately, it is not. There is not enough shade, the heat is too strong. We need more trees and more shaded areas.’
Surface temperatures in parks can rise rapidly, as rubber flooring and synthetic turf often exceed 90°C; Any temperature above 50°C is considered too dangerous for children.
The best plans of action are to wait for a cooler time of day or wet the area to cool the surface.
You can also install shade structures or plant trees in the area, or make sure the equipment has a light-colored surface to absorb less heat.
Mr. Seton shared that children do not They have the same physiological capacity to maintain safe body temperatures.
“Children’s environment is not keeping up with climate change,” he said. ‘It is alarmingly hot and the children are not safe from the heat.
“Children are more sensitive and vulnerable to heat than adults, and heat waves are more deadly than all other natural disasters.”
Parents are warned about the dangers of their local playground as the mercury begins to rise, especially if they let their children play without shoes – pictured healing burns
Pediatric nurses at CPR Kids previously shared disturbing images showing burns on the bottom of a child’s feet after using playground equipment without shoes.
The photo shows large, burst blisters under the big toe and second toe.
“It’s not uncommon to see a parent at the park checking out the slide in the sun and discovering that it’s scorching hot,” the CPR Kids team wrote.
‘A child is at risk of burns when a surface exceeds 50°C and when the skin is heated to 45°C for a prolonged period. At surface temperatures above 50°C, young, sensitive skin can be severely burned in a matter of seconds and require surgery.’
In the post, the team of health professionals sidestepped other “heat-related” illnesses that they would warn parents about before the summer.
Another woman shared this image of burns on her son’s foot after a day fishing off the rocks, highlighting the importance of shoes everywhere, not just on playgrounds.
Some people shared their own stories.
“When I was a teenager I burned all the skin on my butt on a hot slide, talk about pain,” one woman wrote in the post.
Another explained that her children had similar blisters on their feet after playing with rocks near water last summer.
“They look like my feet when I played netball in high school barefoot on the hot court,” added a third, tagging their friend.
One mother said she always checks the metal part of the seat belt before putting her children in the car for the same reason.