DALLAS - Sidewalks can heat up to more than 160 degrees in seconds, which can lead to serious burns for children on a playground. It's a problem some doctors say is on the rise.

Dalton Reed and Michael Adams arrived at a North Texas playground Sunday to find themselves confined to climbing ropes since the slides, swings, steel and plastic surfaces were all too hot.

"It's probably going to shorten our trip because the kids can't really get on the equipment," said Cynthia Reed, the boys' mother.

While Reed watched her children cautiously, Doctor Akram Khan said too many parents aren't aware of the problem created by high temperatures beaming down onto playground equipment.

On 100-degree day, temperatures can reach 166 degrees on equipment. Skin burns at 124 degrees.

"It causes so much problems they are unable to walk and their reaction is to fall down and some of them pass out," Khan said.

Doctors say first, second and even third degree burns can be a likely case on hot days.

"We see those kids every day, especially last week, at a significantly higher rate," Khan said of such cases at the ER.

Tests done by Khan on the surfaces at Dallas' Pike Park showed a 153 degree temperature, which is enough to burn skin in seconds.

"We're going to think twice before going out because it's so hot," Reed said as she headed home early with her children.

Experts say the worst times to be out in the heat at this time are between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kahn also warned that even the sidewalk can burn children's bare feet since their skin is a lot softer than adults.

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