Health

Year Later: NYC Failing To Remedy Playground Burns

Surface Temperatures Of Mats Still At Dangerous Levels; Angry Parents Demanding Solutions

NEW YORK (CBS) ― For two years, CBS 2 HD has told you about a hidden danger in New York City's playgrounds on hot days like these. Scorching hot equipment and floor mats have led to several children suffering serious burns.

Parents and activists say the city has done nothing to prevent more kids from getting hurt.

Last summer CBS 2 HD showed you a heartbreaking home video of little Will Casson crying in pain. His feet were severely burned in an Upper East Side playground by the very mats meant to protect children when they fall.

"As a parent, it was absolutely horrible to watch," father Rich Casson said at the time.

One year later, the Cassons say the city still hasn't done anything to fix the problem.

"Our child would not have been burned if they put up proper warnings and worked toward replacing these mats," Anne Casson said.

Activists say each year more than a dozen children are treated for burns caused by hot playground equipment. Surfaces of more than 100 degrees pose a danger.

So CBS 2 HD went out to find some examples of dangerous playgrounds.

We found one where a reading taken Friday afternoon revealed a surface temperature of nearly 167 degrees.

"These temperatures are outrageous and the city is well aware that these temperatures exist," said Geoffrey Croft of NYC Park Advocates.

Croft says just last week he saw a 4-year-old boy get badly burned at a playground in Dumbo.

"I heard this scream and turned around. This child is actually trying to climb on top of the railing to get away from the heat," Croft said.

Parents are not taking the city's apparent inaction lightly.

"We cannot understand why the city would not immediately remove material that is known to severely burn children summer after summer," Reyhan Mehran said.

CBS 2 HD reached out to the Parks Department for comment but have not heard back. Last year, the Parks commissioner told us they didn't know with what to replace the floor mats. He said they're pushing companies to come up with new material that absorbs the shock of a fall, without absorbing so much heat.

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