The rising temperatures across Ireland and the United Kingdom can be a nightmare for parents. We worry about everything from sunburn to poolside accidents. These fears reminded us of one mum's safety warning that has stuck with us for years.
No matter what you do to protect your children, there always seems to be a hidden danger we haven't considered until it's too late.
Joleen Kellams pleaded with parents to be wary when allowing their children to play on metal equipment in playgrounds or other outdoor activity centres.
The mum posted a heartbreaking photo of injuries sustained by her little girl Maddie when she was burnt by scalding metal, the concerned mum urges all parents to be vigilant at this time of the year.
Although Maddie's injuries didn't come as a result of playground equipment, the child was unfortunately exposed to metal which burnt the sole of her foot and resulted in nerve damage.
Reaching out to parents everywhere, Joleen wrote: "I beg you, please don’t just throw your children on metal toys at the playground, aquatic centres, backyards, or anywhere! They get hotter than we know and can seriously burn their tender skin. Plastic can get really hot too."
Recalling her little girl's traumatic experience, Joleen explained: "This happened almost three years ago but the horror of that day is still very fresh and I just would have never thought of the dangers of playground equipment (and other metal) if this wouldn't have happened."
Paying tribute to her incredibly brave little girl, the heartbroken mum said; “Thankfully, she has healed and has no visible scars, she has some nerve damage (I think) because her feet are always cold. This happened two days before she turned two; but still very real in our lives!"
