Asphalt can become hot enough during the summer to cause a second degree burn within 35 seconds. Under the right condition any surface can become hot enough to cause a burn.
Categories of Harrington et al for people who experience a skin burn:
(1) incapacitated
(2) sensory deficient
(3) restrained
Risk factors for significant injury after contact with hot pavement:
(1) asphalt tends to be hotter on a sunny day since the black color absorbs heat
(2) high environmental temperature
(3) direct sunlight on a bright day
(4) presence or absence of a foot covering
(5) duration of exposure, which may be prolonged if the person is incapacitated or restrained
(6) failure to feel the thermal injury (sensory deficit)
(7) intoxication
(8) thickness of the skin in contact with the pavement (presence of callus, infant)
(9) presence of pre-existing skin defect
(10) response to exposure (able to rapidly cool exposed skin with cool water)
(11) peripheral vascular disease
Differential diagnosis:
(1) newly laid asphalt
(2) alkali burn from newly laid concrete
(3) friction burns
