It was a swelteringly hot day in Phoenix, Arizona. Temperatures had peaked at 115⁰F that day, and mother Dominique Woodger thought to put out the kiddie pool for her 9-month-old son, Nicholas. As she pulled out the pool and made to fill it, the garden hose slipped and sprayed water across the toddler.
The water ended up giving Nicholas second-degree burns on 30% of his body.
Dominique hadn’t realized just how hot the water in the garden hose was.
Her home’s garden hose sat outside in the sun. In hot weather, the temperature of the water in a garden hose can reach up to 150⁰F, particularly if the hose is sitting out in the sun and not under shade. The Phoenix Fire Department Captain, Larry Subervi issued a warning to others using their garden hose on hot days, “At those temperatures, something as short as a 10-or 30-second exposure [to the water] can result in a second-degree burn.”
Others who responded to the news offered more tips. On hot days, let the hose run for a minute or two before using the water to ensure that the temperature is bearable. This rule of thumb should be followed regardless of whether you’re filling a pool, playing with kids, or even just watering the garden. It’s also advised to keep the garden hose in a shaded area, as opposed to under direct sunlight.
Dominique is now using her experience to caution other parents in the coming summer months. “Just be careful… Touch [the water] before you let your kids near it.”
