Can you get burns from the sidewalk? Yes, and people in Arizona are getting sent to the hospital because of it

• Arizona has had record-breaking heat this summer, with temperatures often over 110 degrees.
• A fall on the sidewalk during extreme heat can result in immediate and severe burns, a doctor said.

In Arizona, record-breaking heat has led to a surge in hospitalizations for painful burns. These burns are sometimes so severe they look like someone escaped from a house fire, Dr. Kevin Foster, director of the Arizona Burn Center, previously told CNN.

These burns are caused by coming into contact with hot outdoor surfaces, typically pavement and sidewalks, Foster told Insider. On hot days, outside surfaces can reach temperatures of up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, according to an Arizona Burn Center press release. And depending on the severity, these burns can take weeks or even months to heal, Foster said.

"It only takes a fraction of a second," Foster said, "oftentimes people won't realize that and will walk out on pavement in bare feet, or don't have protective clothing on and fall down. All it takes is just a very short exposure."

The past five years have seen an increase in the number of patients in the Arizona Burn Center, said Foster, but this year has been one of the worst. With maximum temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit during June, July and continuing into August, the Arizona Burn Center, part of Valleywise Health, has seen dozens of patients.

Last year, the Arizona Burn Center admitted 85 patients with contact burns. By the beginning of August this year, the Burn Center has seen an estimated 50 patients, a spokesperson told Insider over email.

"There are more people that are getting injured and their injuries are more severe than usual," said Foster.

Temperatures of 100 degrees or higher can heat pavement to extreme temperatures

People in Arizona are at particular risk of burns due to the combination of high heat and clear skies that allow the sun to beat down on surfaces below.

"We really worry about it when it gets into the triple digits," Foster said, "once it gets above 100 we really start to have to be careful. And once it gets above 110 — that's the danger zone."

Pavement isn't the only dangerous area, Foster said. Cars left out in the sun — especially those that have dark upholstery — can hit temperatures between 140 and 150 degrees, and people can sustain burns just touching the steering wheel or seat belt buckles.

Outdoor door handles and water left in gardening hoses are also common sources of burns. "You think you're gonna go out and get a nice cool spray of water and the water that's sitting in the hose oftentimes is almost boiling," said Foster.

People who are particularly vulnerable to burns include children and the elderly.

"We've had a little kiddo who fell off her bike and suffered a bad burn on her back and she had to come in for a couple of weeks, and required surgery and skin grafting," said Foster.

Foster also worked with an elderly patient "who was just enjoying his summer vacation and slipped on a rock and couldn't get back up again. He ended up with really severe burns and was in the hospital for about a month."

High temperatures have also put those who are unhoused at particular risk of burns: Last year, 26% of patients with severe burns were unhoused.

Burns like this can be life changing, but they are preventable

Severe burns can be life changing. Deep second and third-degree burns, in which most or all of the layers of skin are damaged, may require surgery and skin grafting — where a patch of healthy skin is taken from one area of the body and sewn over the former burn site.

But burns aren't the only worry for doctors. "When patients go down, oftentimes their body temperatures go up and they suffer heat shock," said Foster, "that can affect every organ system."

While the risk of accidental burns is frightening, "it's important to realize that almost all of these burns are preventable with just a little bit of effort," said Foster.

Specifically, people should avoid going outside in the afternoon when the temperatures are above 100 degrees. If you must venture out, Foster advises wearing protective clothing, especially protective shoes, taking breaks to dip into shade or air-conditioning, and making sure somebody is with you in case something happens.

If you do get burned, get it checked out. "We tell people that unless you're very comfortable managing this small superficial burn, come to the burn center," Foster said.