Fire Department Warns Parents To Keep Children Away From Garden Hoses

Jun 14, 2018 by apost team

During the hot summer months with long days and no school, kids often find themselves playing outside, which sometimes involves playing with garden hoses to cool off. But according to the Las Vegas Fire Department, this could be dangerous for kids and they could even wind up in the hospital. 

apost.com

This was the case with nine-month-old baby Nicholas Woodger in Las Vegas. His parents were filling a plastic pool when the baby was accidentally sprayed with water from the hose, which had been sitting outside, burning up under the hot desert sun. The baby boy was covered in serious second-degree burns on a third of his body.

Most parents don't think that water from a garden hose could injure their children, so the Las Vegas Fire Department issued a warning to parents.

The department stated that a hose in direct sunlight can heat up to a scalding 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which is dangerous, especially to young children. They suggest letting it run for a few minutes to cool down or avoid using it around children during scalding summer temperatures. Parents can also keep the garden hose in a garage or shed during the summer when not in use, which prevents it from heating up drastically. 

In addition, the Las Vegas Fire Department also warned parents to be cautious around certain structures at the playground, like slides or monkey bars or a sandbox, as these can also get incredibly hot under the direct sunlight in the summer. 

Being a parent is difficult, but its a little easier when taking a few precautions. Go out and enjoy the summer with your kiddos and don't forget to pass this crucial information on to your friends and family!