Heat and the playground: How hot can the equipment get?
When kids are out playing in the sun, Longview Fire Marshal Kevin May says staying hydrated and avoiding burns is the last thing on their minds.
Author: Shandel Menezes
Updated: 10:10 PM CDT July 23, 2021
LONGVIEW, Texas — Temperatures will be dancing with the triple digits this weekend which raises concern for heat related injuries. This is why it's crucial for parents to protect their kids while playing outside.
"The children, they're not going to do it themselves if we don't, as parents, make them," said Longview Fire Marshal Kevin May.
The National Program for Playground Safety reports playground equipment has recorded temperatures of up to 189 degrees. This can burn a child’s skin in less than three seconds. The most common places on a playground for a child to be burned? A slide or surfaces like turf.