Global warming causing second degree burns on the human body

Washington: The increase in temperature is one of the most serious global warming phenomena causing several problems, including second-degree burns of the human body, researchers said. When the temperature in the southwestern United States rises above 100 degrees, the pavement can become hot enough to cause second degree burns in seconds.

In a new study published in the Journal of Burn Care & Research, a team of surgeons examined burns in a burn treatment center in the Las Vegas area over a five-year period. The team compared the outside temperatures at the time of admission of each patient to determine, in essence, how hot it is.

"Road burns represent a significant number of burn-related injuries, particularly in the southwestern United States.The pavement can be much warmer than the ambient temperature in direct sunlight and can cause burns. second degree in less than two seconds, "wrote the authors of the study. .

For this study, researchers identified 173 road-related burns between 2013 and 2017. Of these, 149 were isolated burns from the roadway and 24 were injuries, including road accidents. More than 88% (153) of the related incidents occurred when the temperature was 95 degrees Celsius or higher, with the risk increasing exponentially when temperatures exceeded 105 degrees Celsius.

Indeed, the pavement exposed to the sun absorbs the radiant energy, which makes it much hotter and potentially dangerous. The authors of the study stated that, for example, a 111-degree roadway per day could be as hot as 147 degrees in direct sunlight. For reference, a fried egg becomes firm at 158 ​​degrees.

And while it seems obvious not to stay on the sidewalk, it is inevitable for some people, including road accident victims, people with mobility problems or medical episodes who have fallen to the ground, or young children who may not know better. The summer to-go in the desert is not a joke and further education is needed to warn people of the risks badociated with hot roads, especially as temperatures rise above 100 degrees.

"This information is useful for burn treatment centers in hot climates, to plan and prepare for coordination of care and treatment, and can also be used for burn prevention and public health awareness. including increased awareness and additional training in emergency medical services and personal police badigned to victims of curbside burns in the field, "said Dr. Jorge Vega, lead author of the study .

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