Is your school taking steps to prevent playground heatstroke?

Schools are gradually returning to in-person learning thanks to the vaccination process. This is great news for children who will once again benefit from face-to-face contact with their teachers and interactions with their friends. We’re also entering the warm weather months, and the need to maintain safe social distancing practices will likely lead many schools to encourage outdoor play.

It’s important to remember that the outside temperature on a particular day must remain an important factor governing decisions about students’ ability to play outdoors. Extremely hot, sunny days place young children at serious risk of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. Therefore, it’s critical that your school takes the necessary steps to prevent these serious issues from developing.

When Is it Too Hot to Play Outside?

There are various factors impacting the point at which it becomes too hot for children to play outside. These include:

• Outdoor air temperature
• Humidity level
• Temperature on the blacktop
• Presence of shaded areas and benches for children to cool off
• Access to water
• Length of playtime and sun exposure

Keep in mind that children rarely complain when they overheat, and they typically fail to take the actions necessary to self-regulate their body temperature. In addition, children absorb more heat than adults while sweating less. These factors create a greater risk that they’ll suffer heatstroke.

It’s a good idea to review local heat advisories on hot days. This will help you make decisions that keep your students safe and reduce the likelihood of heat-related illness.

Playgrounds Radiate Heat at Extreme Levels

Most playgrounds function as serious heat radiators. Both the asphalt and playground equipment reach temperatures that far exceed the outside temperature, and this is particularly true on sunny days.

A research team from Columbia University measured the surface heat of playground asphalt at 134°F on a day when the air temperature was 91°F. Interestingly, the research team also found that AstroTurf gets even hotter than asphalt.

Playground equipment heats up quickly and retains this heat for prolonged periods. Not only will this increase a child’s risk of heat-related illness, but it also places them at risk of burn injuries.  In California, an ABC News team worked with a University of California San Diego professor to evaluate the temperature of standard playground equipment. They determined that playgrounds act as mini heat islands:

• Plastic slides reached temperatures as high as 160°F
• Rubber cushioning exceeded 170°F
• Children get second-degree burns in three seconds at temperatures of 140°F and third-degree burns in five seconds
• Burn injuries occurred even when outside air temperatures were in the low 70s

Common Warning Signs of Heat-Related Illness

All teachers and staff supervising outdoor activities must be educated about the warning signs of heat-related illness.

Heat Cramps

While heat cramps aren’t severe on their own, they’re typically a sign that a child is headed towards developing a more serious issue such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Children are particularly susceptible to heat cramps when they’re not staying hydrated. These brief, painful muscle cramps most commonly occur in the:

• Arms
• Legs
• Abdominal region

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is more severe than heat cramps. It often develops when children become dehydrated while playing or exercising in a hot environment. Common symptoms include:

• Elevated body temperature (doesn’t exceed 104°F)
• Cool, clammy skin
• Goosebumps
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Fainting
• Increased sweating
• Irritability
• Increased thirst
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Muscle cramps

Heatstroke

If heat exhaustion is left untreated, it can develop into heatstroke. This is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires immediate action. During heatstroke, the child’s body generates more heat than it’s able to release, resulting in a rapid rise in core body temperature. This can lead to devastating consequences such as brain damage or death if treatment isn’t administered promptly. Common symptoms include:

• Core body temperature above 104°F
• Flushed, hot, dry skin
• Absence of sweating
• Weakness and/or dizziness
• Confusion
• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
• Severe headache
• Rapid breathing and heartbeat
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

If a child exhibits signs of heatstroke, call 911 immediately and request emergency assistance. While you’re waiting for help:

• Move the child inside or to a shady location outdoors
• Undress the child and immerse them in a bathtub of cold water (apply cold towels over the body if a bathtub isn’t available)
• Avoid administering fluids unless the child is awake and alert

Ways to Keep Kids Cool on the Playground

There are two components to helping kids stay cool on the playground. First, you need to implement policies that promote heat safety on school grounds. These policies should include:

• Allowing water bottles in the classroom and on the playground on hot days so that children can stay properly hydrated
• Allowing children to wear hats on the playground to shade their faces from the sun
• Limiting outdoor recess time to minimize the risk of overheating
• Encouraging children to sip water frequently after engaging in physical activity
• Conducting outdoor activities in the shade, if possible
• Minimizing time spent on playground structures or hot asphalt playgrounds
• Educating students about the warning signs of heat-related illness

Second, you should consider modifications to your playground that will help kids stay cool. Some practical options include:

• Canopies or shade structures – These provide a safe, comfortable place for kids to play. The American Academy of Dermatology has a Shade Structure Grant Program that awards schools up to $8,000 towards the purchase of a permanent shade structure. This can significantly reduce your school’s costs, helping you fit a shade structure into your budget.
• Water misters – The microscopic water droplets produced by misters can cool the surrounding air by as much as 30 degrees. As an added benefit, misters often increase the likelihood that children will self-regulate and seek out the cool mist when they start to overheat.
• Evaporative coolers – Evaporative coolers provide an affordable and effective solution to cool your school playground on a hot day. They harness the scientific process of evaporation to cool the outside air temperature dramatically, potentially lowering the surrounding temperature by as much as 30 degrees.

Portacool Can Keep Kids Cool on the Playground

Portacool has been an industry leader in evaporative cooling technology for over 30 years. All of our evaporative coolers are made in our Center, Texas manufacturing facility. In addition, our evaporative media is explicitly designed to meet the specifications of Portacool evaporative coolers, ensuring the most effective results.

Our Jetstream™ series and Cyclone™ series are both ideally suited to the needs of schools looking to provide a cool, comfortable environment that will keep kids safe on playgrounds. Our evaporative coolers come in a variety of sizes, ensuring you can find one to provide optimal results for the outdoor space you’re trying to cool. You can use our online tool to find the right Portacool for you.

Please visit a local retailer or contact us directly to learn more about Portacool evaporative coolers.