Playground heat hazard safety tips for parents

As we get closer to summer, temperatures are rising, that means playground equipment will become hot, and could harm your child.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – As we get closer to summer, temperatures are rising, that means playground equipment will become hot, and could harm your child.

Sergeant Jeremy Webb is the Fire Safety Education Officer with the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department, he warns parents what to look out for.

“Our slides and our swings and things of that nature gets pretty hot outside, so if we’re entering into the high nineties or triple digits that equipment can sit in the sun all through out the day and they can pretty much bake,” said, the Fire Safety Education Officer, Sergeant Webb.

Sgt. Webb says a good way to help prevent your child from getting hurt is to test the temperature of the equipment.

He says, “use your hand and if its unbearable to your hand, it definitely can be unbearable to our children.”

Sgt. Webb also recommends making sure your child stays hydrated, wear lighter clothing and go to the playground in the earlier or later parts of the day when equipment is cooler.

Mom of two, Kristina Ruege, says she always tries to incorporate those tips when taking her 3 year-old, Finley to the park; she even has a few good ideas of her own.

Ruege says, “we try and come early in the morning if we’re going to go outside to the playground, wear hats, sunscreen, light wear clothes and sometimes we’ll even bring water to spray on the equipment to try and keep it cool.