A Hot Problem in the City

By W. Gifford-Jones MD and Diana Gifford Do you know the new problem that is starting to kill some people? It’s not a viral disease, but it’s spreading in very hot climates. Caring pet owners protect their dogs from it, but some people are not taking the same precautions. What’s the trouble? It’s third-degree burns that result from contact with hot pavement. Our sidewalks are becoming deadly! Climate change is creating environmental extremes. Floods for some. Fires for others. And in some cities, there are growing numbers of people suffering severe burns from contact with excessively hot outdoor surfaces. The statistics show that not only are more such burns occurring each year, but more people are dying from very large and deep burns caused by prolonged contact with hot sidewalk pavement. The New York Times reported on a case in Las Vegas. A man, having had a few too many drinks at his favourite bar, passed out on a sidewalk during the day as temperatures rose to 109ºF. He woke up in hospital with severe burns, and not only to his skin. He suffered third-degree burns that scorched deep into the underlying muscle and bone. Treatment for his burns required several weeks in hospital and multiple operations to salvage damaged tissue. For a few drinks, it was a huge price to pay. There are other examples where alcohol wasn’t a factor. One elderly man tripped and fell on stones in his own backyard. He badly scorched his hands, forearms, and legs in trying to get himself up. Another person had the same problem, not due to age but to excessive weight. The pavement was so hot that summertime clothing did little to alleviate the scorching intense heat. Cries for help brought bystanders, but the damaged was done. This person also received dangerous burns requiring hospitalization, surgeries, and a very painful process of recovery. Children as also falling victim. For example, toddlers don’t realize how hot door handles can get or even car seats in the sun, and they don’t have well-developed withdrawal reflexes. In the blink of an eye, babies can crawl from cool grass or safe playground surfaces onto hot pavement, or from a beach towel onto blistering hot sand. They may not cry until after a damaging burn occurs. People with diabetes comprise another category of victims. Their damaged nerves and poor circulation, especially in their feet, increase the risk of burns from walking barefoot on hot concrete and not feeling pain. Amputation is the only possible treatment for ten per cent of diabetics who burn their feet. How many people fail to think of their pet’s paws on hot asphalt. Do this simple test. If you can’t hold the back of your hand for seven seconds on the sidewalk, then it’s too hot for your dog. We will all need to be more careful about burns from hot pavement. But don’t forget about where burns remain most common and preventable. That’s in the kitchen. Use your common sense, as nearly everyone can identify the risks. Young children should not be near the stove. Older people need to make adjustments when cooking. Among seniors, burns are the second leading injury at home after falls. So don’t attempt to carry pots and hot dishes that are too heavy to handle safely. And don’t wear loose clothing that can catch fire, especially at a gas-burning stove. What can be done about that scorching pavement? Let’s start by not building more and more of it. Cities and subdivisions will continue to expand. But we need to use better design with more greenery, and a lot less concrete and asphalt. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones