While a "fraction of a second" is hyperbole, studies show that "a few seconds" can produce third degree burns...
Hot Las Vegas pavement can cause serious burns in seconds, study warns
By Kelcie Grega
Sun, Jul 28, 2019 (2 a.m.)
Las Vegas temperatures are forecast to remain in triple-digits for the rest of the month and into August, putting more at risk of burn injuries from hot pavement, medical officials said.
A UNLV study found 173 pavement burn cases in Southern Nevada over the past five years. Eighty-eight percent of the cases happened on days when the temperature was above 95 degrees.
The pavement absorbs radiant energy and is significantly hotter than outside temperatures, according to the study. For example, when the temperature outside is more than 110 degrees, pavement temperatures can reach well above 140 degrees, which can result in second and third-degree burns within seconds of direct skin contact.
The study also found that burn injuries can happen when the outside temperature is as low as 84 degrees.
Those who are most at risk are children unaware of hot pavement, trauma victims who become incapacitated or unconscious on the ground and patients with diabetic neuropathy, said Dr. Jorge Vega, one of the lead UNLV researchers on the study.
Also, some tourists have been admitted for pavement-related burns because “they’re walking from the pool deck and they think it’s a short walk to the pool,” Vega said.