How hot is too hot for the playground? How to protect your child from the heat
Florida is expecting more sweltering heat this week as the statewide heat wave rages on and it’s not just heating up Florida’s oceans, it’s also heating up the surfaces of popular outdoor hangouts.
Taking the kids to the playground or the beach might not be in your best interest. The rubber flooring of an outdoor playground in Miami-Dade County was recorded at a whopping 177 degrees last week.
And escaping the heat to cool off at the beach is no longer a solid option, with sand temperatures on the shore in South Beach reaching almost 140 degrees during this stretch of hot weather.
Both of these temperatures are well over the threshold of what can burn human skin.
High temperature safety, At what temperature does human skin burn?
Both of the recorded surface temperatures above are hot enough to burn humans.
Human skin begins to feel pain at 111 degrees Fahrenheit. At 118 degrees Fahrenheit, human skin can sustain first-degree burns. And second-degree burns are possible at 131 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Institute for Standards and Technology.
Extreme heat: Miami playground surface hits 177.9 degrees amid record-breaking heat in Florida
How hot is too hot for the playground?
According to the CDC, children are among the most at-risk group for heat related illnesses like heat exhaustion, heat rash or heat stroke.
“Those at greatest risk for heat-related illness include infants and children up to four years of age, people 65 years of age and older, people who are overweight, and people who are ill or on certain medications,” the CDC’s website says.
And HealthyChildren.org, a quarterly online magazine published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, says that a heat index above 90 degrees Fahrenheit poses a health risk for kids.
Florida’s heat index has stayed above 90 degrees for a record amount of time this summer. July 2023 tied with June 1998 as Florida's hottest month ever. The heat index was higher than 100 degrees for 46 straight days in Miami.
How can I test playground equipment temperatures?
If you’d like to test the surface temperature of the equipment at your local playground, you’ll need an infrared thermometer. It sounds fancy, but it isn’t that expensive.
You could spend almost $800 for a top-of-the-line infrared thermometer, but Staples has one listed at a 76% discount right now, making it only $7. You can also find them at Home Depot, with options ranging from $15 to around $65, or on Amazon, with most prices ranging from $11 to around $30.
What is heat rash? How to treat it
“Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather,” The CDC’s website says. “It can occur at any age but is most common in young children.”
Heat rash is most likely to show up on your child’s neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breast area or in elbow creases. It looks like a cluster of red pimples or small blisters.
The best way to treat heat rash is to provide a cooler, less humid environment and keep the affected area dry, according to the CDC. You can use dusting powder to combat any discomfort your child may feel.
South Florida heat advisory: Heat exhaustion, stroke symptoms Floridians should know
What are signs of heat illness in kids?
According to HealthyChildren.org, you should call your child’s pediatrician if they have been exposed to extreme heat and exhibits any of the following symptoms:
Feeling faint
Extreme tiredness (eg, unusually sleepy, drowsy, or hard to arouse)
Headache
Fever
Intense thirst
Not urinating for many hours
Nausea
Vomiting
Breathing faster or deeper than normal
Skin numbness or tingling
Muscle aches
Muscle spasms
Lianna Norman covers trending news in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at lnorman@pbpost.com. You can follow her reporting on social media @LiannaNorman on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Heat wave tips for parents: How hot is too hot for the playground?
