A heat wave is spreading through the Eastern U.S. this week. The rising temperatures are turning pavements and playgrounds into dangerous burn zones. CBS News climate correspondent David Schechter explains. Warning: some of the images in this story are difficult to view.

Phoenix

Rising temperatures in Phoenix have led to an increase in contact burn injuries, with medical professionals reporting a record number of cases in recent years. Data from a local burn center shows a direct link between higher average summer temperatures and a surge in burn incidents, including among children.

City officials are implementing measures such as special asphalt coatings to reduce surface temperatures on streets, but experts warn that even treated surfaces can still pose a risk. Residents are urged to take precautions, as contact with hot ground can cause serious and potentially life-threatening injuries.

How rising temperatures drive increase in contact burn injuries

With heat warnings popping up across the country, rising temperatures are turning pavements and playgrounds into straight up burn zones. CBS News climate correspondent David Schechter has more on what parents need to look out for. And here's a warning for you. Some of these images can be jarring. You just sort of sprawled out down here. I sprawled out head first over here when 76 year old Robert Woolley lost his balance in his phoenix backyard. It was blazing hot and he sustained contact burns on 20% of his body. And I just couldn't get back up. And I looked at my hands and the skin and peeled off my hands like the skin from an onion. It looked like raw hamburger underneath. Heat affects everything. Dr Kevin Foster is the medical director of the Burn Center at Valley Wise Health, where they treated a record number of contact burn patients last year, including 15 deaths. What do you attribute that number going up? It definitely is related to temperatures. No question about it. When Dr Foster and his team analyzed 16 years of data, they found a connection between rising summer temperatures driven by climate change and more burns. For example, in 2008, when the average summer temperature was close to 107 degrees, there were nine contact burns by 2023, with the average temperature at 113 degrees. Burn cases jumped to 120. Once it gets super hot, then the number of burns goes up and the acuity, the seriousness of those burns likewise goes up. Can you walk on your feet? And that includes Children. This toddler suffered first degree burns on his feet after running on hot pavement, but fully recovered after treatment. What should parents be thinking about to reduce the risk of this? You really have to think about it ahead of time because you can't really deal with it when it's happening because it happens so quickly. And once it's happened, you can't go back. Phoenix is a city grappling with the impact of heat on health, where most playgrounds and bus stops are shaded. And Ryan Stevens, an engineer with the city, wanted to show us how on 140 miles of streets they've applied a special asphalt coating that helps reduce surface temperatures. This street was treated and this street hasn't. Okay, so let's check it out. We go over to the street where it hasn't been treated. Got 1 55 here and 1 44 over here. Cooler but not cool enough to prevent a burn. As Robert Wooley knows, what would you tell people about being aware that this could happen? The ground is a lot hotter than the air and that contact with the hot ground is potentially lethal. David Schechter, CBS News, Phoenix, Arizona.

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