Hot pavement is giving people third-degree burns in some parts of the country as temperatures soar.
"Asphalt is both black and dense, so it absorbs heat and it retains it for several hours." Washington University and Barnes Jewish emergency medicine specialist Dr. Tiffany Osborne says asphalt is usually 40-to 60 degrees hotter than the air temperature.
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That means on a 95 degree day, asphalt temps can reach 150 degrees. Even a short fall onto asphalt, Dr. Obsorne says, can lead to serious burns, "If you're elderly or you have elderly family members, those who are at fall risk, they should stay in during the hottest part of the day, and if they do want to go somewhere or they're walking someplace they should have someone with them, so if they do fall, someone can help them get back up quickly and also call 911."
Other hot surfaces to be aware of include car doors, seat belts and buckles, leather car seats and playground equipment.
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