SEATTLE - As scorching-high temperatures keep on hitting most of the United States, people in some of the hottest places are now at an increased risk of serious contact burns. Playgrounds, roads and even sidewalks in some areas get so hot that skin contact could result in second-degree and third-degree burns. In some cases they could even be fatal, according to experts.
Streets are often the hottest surfaces, as dark asphalt paving absorbs more sunlight than lighter-colored surfaces. Asphalt can absorb up to 95% of solar radiation, and these types of surfaces can easily be 40 to 60°F hotter than the air temperature on a very hot day.
