Heatwave in Sacramento Valley Causes Surge in Foot Burns
TL;DR
Knowing how to protect your feet from hot pavement can give you an advantage in avoiding burns and staying active.
To protect your feet from thermal burns, always wear shoes or sandals, apply sunscreen, and walk in shaded areas.
By staying safe and protecting your feet from burns, we can keep everyone healthy and active in the heat.
Hot pavement can cause serious burns to your feet in seconds, so always be cautious and wear protective footwear.
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The summer of 2024 has been a record-breaking scorcher in California's Sacramento Valley, with continuous triple-digit temperatures prompting daily heat advisories. Amidst reminders about staying hydrated and applying sunscreen, Dr. Phong Le, President of the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA), highlights a less obvious but critical area of concern: foot protection.
According to a University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Medicine study published in the Journal of Burn Care & Research, pavement temperatures can soar dozens of degrees higher than the ambient air, reaching levels capable of causing second-degree and third-degree burns. "Hot pavement can burn the soles of the feet in mere seconds," said Dr. Le. The resulting injuries can be excruciatingly painful, impacting mobility and the ability to wear protective footwear.
Dr. Le notes that such burns are particularly hazardous for vulnerable groups, including young children, seniors, and individuals with diabetes, poor circulation, or neuropathy, which can result in a loss of sensation in the feet. Early recognition of burn symptoms—such as pain, swelling, redness, blister formation, and skin peeling—is essential for prompt treatment and to avoid serious complications like infection, permanent tissue damage, or even amputation.
Dr. Le advises several preventive measures to protect feet from thermal burns:
- Avoid going barefoot, especially for those with diabetes or neuropathy, as they may not feel the heat and could suffer severe burns.
- Always wear protective footwear when walking on hot pavement or sand.
- Apply sunscreen to feet, focusing on the top and toes, and choose footwear with adequate coverage when planning a day outdoors.
- Walk on shaded paths whenever possible to minimize direct exposure to hot surfaces.
- Walk pets during cooler early morning or evening hours to protect their paws from burns.
Dr. Le underscores the importance of keeping everyone's feet healthy in the heat and urges those who sustain or suspect thermal burns to contact a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine immediately for evaluation and treatment. The CPMA, founded in 1912, is the leading professional organization for California's Doctors of Podiatric Medicine, who are highly trained specialists in diagnosing and treating foot, ankle, and lower leg conditions. For more information or to find a licensed Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, visit https://www.calpma.org/.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
