![]() ![]() Keep the sun, direct sunlight, off your skin - a protective hat. SIMON: What advice might you have, doctor, for people especially who might have to work outdoors?įOSTER: You know, obviously, we recommend protective clothing. That can really be a tough situation when people suffer heat stroke. And, you know, sometimes people end up with really bad central nervous problems, liver problems, kidney problems. SIMON: Even if people don't end up being burned, is there some hazard just to being outside under that kind of unrelenting sun?įOSTER: Just being out in 110- to 115-, sometimes almost 120-degree weather in direct sunlight, it only takes a very short period of time to suffer heat prostration. And almost all of them require surgery for skin grafting.įOSTER: Well, you know, this is our busy time of year, and we anticipate that it's going to be a tough, busy time for us. And the way we treat that is we bring these people into the hospital. And unfortunately, a lot of our people end up laying out there for minutes and sometimes even hours, and they end up with really horrible burns. ![]() It only takes just a fraction of a second to get a pretty serious burn. Asphalt and concrete and sidewalks in Phoenix on a hot afternoon in direct sunlight oftentimes can reach 170 to 180 degrees. How do you treat that?įOSTER: First of all, the burns tend to be really bad. And we are seeing, really, a sharp uptick in people who are falling down, going down onto hot pavement, hot asphalt, and getting really, really terrible burns as a result of that. And then, June has - and July - have really come in with a vengeance. Foster, thanks for being with us.įOSTER: Yeah, so this is a really tough summer for us. Kevin Foster directs the Arizona Burn Center in Phoenix at Valleywise Health Medical Center. And in such temperatures, simply touching everyday objects - a seat belt buckle, a garden hose - can burn you. Tuesday, the city was 110 degrees for a 19th consecutive day. The involved extremities should be monitored for pain, pallor, paraesthesia, paralysis and pulselessness, which indicate the development of compartment syndrome.Summer in Phoenix has been scalding and dangerous this year. ![]() Cardiac arrythmias and ECG changes are usually seen within first few hours post injury (present in about one-third of patients). ![]() Asystole occurs with high voltage contact burns. Fractures of long bones and spine may be associated due to fall. Thermal injuries may also be present due to ignition of the clothing after electric contact. Conversely, as the moist skin offers low resistance, a less significant thermal burn injury manifests on the skin, but current flows more freely through the deeper tissues. Dry skin offers more resistance, thus the flow of current to the deeper tissues is retarded, but the extent of the cutaneous burn is greater. Strong contractions of flexor muscle group in upper limb tend to maintain the contact and it may cause muscle injury, joint dislocations and fractures.Įxtensive damage to the deeper tissues (muscles, blood vessels, nerves, etc.) may be present beneath intact and unburned skin. Tetanic contractions induced in the muscle prevent the victim to free himself/ herself from the source. These injuries are classified under major burns and the victim needs to be transported to a burns care facility. Electrical burns occur due to contact with live electric wires or lightning. ![]()
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