Editor's note: As Arizona continues to battle COVID-19, please follow social distancing and face covering guidelines in public at all times, including playgrounds.
A day at the playground can be tempting on a bright sunny day, but in the Arizona heat, it can also be dangerous.
Children playing outside during Arizona summers can face 100 days or more of temperatures north of 100°F. Too often playgrounds use heat-retaining, unnatural surfaces in the middle of parks with no shade, especially in Phoenix. These unshaded playgrounds can act as mini heat islands, which can disincentivize physically active play or even lead to burns.
ASU urban climate researchers Jennifer Vanos and Ariane Middel believe proper shading of playgrounds may be a solution.
“Shade protects children from the sun and keeps playground equipment cool and touchable,” said Middel. Their research provides insight into these spaces, as well as tips on keeping children safe in the heat.
Infographic by Alex Davis/Media Relations and Strategic Communications
More Health and medicine
Mayo Clinic, ASU 2024 seed grant recipients represent future of health care
Can the current method of performing orthopedic surgery be transformed with new materials? Would a simple fingerstick biosensor be able to track heart health? How can AI better train the next…
College of Health Solutions alum poised to make global health impact
At the intersection of health care and technology lies the potential for both great benefit and great harm. In 2021, when a COVID-19 vaccination-tracking app was hacked and the personal health…
College of Health Solutions program helps Parkinson’s patients ‘speak out’
Degenerative diseases are of an especially insidious nature in that they only get worse over time. One such disease, Parkinson’s, is known for a common manifestation called hypokinetic dysarthria, or…