Toddler suffers second degree burns after walking on rubber playground matting.
A QLD Mum has been trolled after sharing her story to warn other families about the dangers of hot rubber matting in playgrounds after her toddler received second-degree burns.
Jessica Mead, 29, said her 15-month-old son, Jackson, had been running around barefoot on an oval on The Strand in Townsville with his cousins when he pushed a scooter over to a nearby playground while she packed up about 11.30am.
“Then I heard an ear-piercing scream and instantly I knew it was hot,” she told Courier Mail.
“Instead of moving, because after all he’s still only a little toddler, he just stood there screaming.
“He was just kind of stuck to the ground, like he was stuck in mud, so I’ve dropped my breakfast and run to him which felt like really slow motion to me.”
Mrs Mead scooped up Jackson and saw that the toddler’s feet had blistered immediately, so she poured water on his feet from a water bottle and breastfed him until he calmed down.
She then ran him over to one of the beach showers and to a lifeguard first aid station, but the lifeguards were out on patrol.
“I sat with Jackson under a tap while Kellie finished packing up the car and her three young boys,” she said.
“As a new mum I wasn’t sure what to do and I didn’t know how bad the burn actually was at first.
“I knew water or ice would be the best thing for a burn. Rather than race straight to the emergency room with a hysterical toddler, I took him to my sister’s house, which is closer than the hospital.
“I jumped in the pool with him, which calmed him down, and called a house doctor.”
Bad Burn
The doctor initially told them it looked like a first-degree burn and treated and bandaged the little foot, advising Ms Mead to keep it dry from now on to prevent infection.
Mrs Mead said when her GP checked Jackson at his appointment the next day, the foot had blistered with it now being categorised as a second-degree, superficial burns.
“I felt pretty stupid,” Mrs Mead said.
“Other kids had run onto the playground as well, but Jackson must have run onto the hottest part.
“There were shade sails over the park, but there were gaps that let the sun through in some areas.
“As a new mum, it was probably my realisation that things can happen in 10 seconds.”
“Our doctor told us Jackson was the third child she had seen that week with similar burns, including another one from a similar park and one from a day care where the staff had apparently forgotten to put away a rubber mat before the kids went outside,” she said.
Mrs Mead, who together with her sister Kellie Stephenson, started the blog OMG I’m that Mum in 2015, said she decided to post about how her son’s feet got burnt as a warning to others.
She wrote on her blog that “mum guilt” lingers even when reminded it was an accident.
The response to her story has been quite shocking with some comments including…..
“Story should be titled “Irresponsible Mother Takes No Responsibility For Own Child’s Injuries” with a sub-heading of “Parent forgets to have child wear shoes”
“What about if it’s that hot don’t take your kid to the park! It’s not just about the ground but anything metal and the plastic gets hot and can burn, even the sand can burn (not that bad but it still gets hot) I’m in agreement above though my kids always wear shoes!”
“For gods sakes why is this even news? Use some common sense and put some god damn shoes on your kids to go outside in summer! “
“On hot days and most playground have rubber matting common sense should tell you to make sure your child keeps there shoes on…simple!!!”
“Simple!! Shoes is the answer. Who knows what is on the ground in those places.”
“Shoes. It’s a no brainier. Sadly brains appear lacking here…”
It is just a simple reminder from a caring mum. Why do we always need to be so rude and judgemental?
It could happen to anyone!
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