Playgrounds can get very hot and thermal infrared cameras prove just how dangerous they can be for kids

If you have children and live somewhere where summer heats up, you know how tough it can be to keep them entertained during school vacations.

Swimming pools and soft play centers (especially those with air conditioning) offer some relief, but most kids are happiest on the playground.

That means you face a tough challenge, and possibly a tantrum or two, when you tell them it’s just too hot outside to play on their favorite slide.

Research backs up this concern.

The blistering temperatures playground rides can reach

While many playgrounds replaced metal slides that used to get scorching under the sun, new plastic slides aren’t much safer.

AccuWeather tested a plastic slide in State College, Pennsylvania, on a day when the air temperature hit 90ºF. Using a FLIR (Forward-Looking Infrared) thermal camera, they measured the slide’s surface temperature.

The slide reached a blistering 164ºF, well above the threshold for third-degree burns, which can start at just 122ºF depending on circumstances.

Other playground surfaces also exceeded burn-inducing temperatures, including mulch (157ºF), bare wood (150ºF), a black rubber swing (145ºF), asphalt (144ºF), and concrete (124ºF).

How to keep your kids safe when playing outdoors in the heat

So, if you have no choice but to take your kids to a playground on a hot day, look for one with plenty of shade, such as trees or canopies. Shade can dramatically lower surface temperatures and help avoid an emergency room visit.

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