High temperatures and high water cause playground to erupt!

This has been one strange summer!   Who would have thought that all the recent rains would contribute to a freak accident of decompising wood chips to ignite from the hot sun, resulting in a playground fire.   On the 14th August, 2007,  a surveillance video caught on tape a playground erupting in flames at Anderson Elementary School.  Within seconds the playground equipment caught alight from the high temperatures and the equipment melted down. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2007/08/14/thomas.tx.playground.combust.ktxa   Fortunately, there were no children on the playground or nearby.  Extra protection needs to be given to ensure that playgrounds are made as safe as possible to reduce any hazards around the area.  Shade structures are not only useful for protecting children while at play outdoors, but are also one sure way of reducing heat to playground equipment.  See www.shade4schools.com to learn more about this product.  The shade structure tops are made from uv stabilized polyethelene which ‘breathes’ allowing hot air to escape creating a cool cushion, (15-20 degrees cooler than conventional steel roof which actually traps heat).  Due to the multiple benefits of shade structures it is imperative that communities insist on shade structures to increase playground safety for their children today.