Consumer Report: Safety Tips for Hot Playgrounds
by CBS3's Jim Donovan for KYW Newsradio 1060
Nicole Hollinghead says one minute her 18-month old daughter Madison was smiling, the next she was crying.
"She was screaming on her way to the emergency room. "
To be treated for second degree burns on her hands, stomach and knees. Her injuries came from spending mere moments on a slide at a neighborhood park.
Even though it was an 80 degree day -- the plastic slide had reached a temperature of more than 160 degrees.
Geoffrey Croft is a playground safety advocate:
"You can get burned in a matter of minutes on anything over 120 degrees. Over 140 degrees it can take a matter of seconds."
And Croft says even black safety mats commonly found in playgrounds can reach those temperatures too:
"Parents should be aware these are some of the hidden dangers when you go out to a playground."
