Recent incidents reported to the regulatory authority show that it doesn’t take much for a child to burn their feet on a soft fall mat in Queensland’s extreme heat.
Did you know that hot surface burn injuries commonly affect children up to 2 years of age during the summer months, and the majority of these injuries occur from playground equipment and surfaces?
These incidents are preventable with adequate risk management strategies—has your service taken steps to prevent children’s exposure to heat and hot play equipment and surfaces?
Consider the following when developing and implementing your sun protection policies and procedures (PDF, 245KB)
Shaded areas
Creating effective shade should be considered as 1 strategy within a comprehensive sun safety policy.
Well designed and effective shade provides sun protection and helps to cool the grounds and reduce heat.
There are many ways outdoor spaces can provide shade, including shade sails, large trees and natural surfaces which reflect less UV (e.g. natural grass, soil, bark).
Natural shade in the form of well planted trees and shrubs can provide shade and help to improve the natural environment at the same time.
Additionally, wearing hats, appropriate protective clothing and sunscreen offer important protection.
Play equipment and other surfaces
During the hotter months, playground equipment and surfaces, such as metal, concrete, stone, sand, rubber, plastic, soft fall mats and synthetic grass, can heat up rapidly and retain heat, which is a serious burns risk to children. Young children are more susceptible to heat-related illness and injuries than adults. Their bodies cannot easily adapt to changing temperatures and they are less likely to respond quickly to heat affected surfaces.
Consider these 5 things to help prevent scalds and burns from overheated play equipment and objects:
- Regularly check the temperature of outdoor facilities and equipment on hot, sunny days to see if they are safe for children to use. This is crucial for surfaces that children may touch, kneel, sit or lie on.
- Make sure all equipment and surfaces are suitable for outdoor use by checking manufacturers’ warnings and instructions.
- Consider if children should wear shoes outside.
- Consider if shade structures should be moved throughout the day or seasonally to protect areas such as play equipment from direct sunlight.
- Train all staff to test outdoor surface temperatures and follow manufacturer/ installer instructions for equipment use.
Other considerations for caring for children in hot weather:
- Stay hydrated and well nourished. Ensure each child has easy access to plain water and encourage them to drink it, even before they become thirsty.
- Build staff awareness about the prevention, monitoring and identification of heat related risks.
- Discourage spraying surfaces with water to cool them down. If insufficient quantities of water are used, burns/scalds can occur through contact as water/steam conducts thermal energy more efficiently than concrete.
- Modify routine activities during excessive heat.
- Ensure foods and lunch boxes are stored safely.
- Revise first aid procedures in the event of a child or staff member experiencing heat related illness or injury.
Create infrastructure that reduces exposure to heat. For example, room ventilation, access to additional fans, and shade provision (e.g. trees, shade sails, natural vegetation).
Related information