With weekend highs in the Las Vegas valley reaching 105 degrees, it’s clear that summer is unofficially here.
Beyond the more stereotypical heat-related conditions like sunburns and heatstroke, health professionals warn temperatures like this can cause an unusual injury: pavement burns.
“Last year [in 2024], we had 94 patients admitted with pavement burns,” said surgeon Rabia Nizamani, referring to caseloads at the UMC Lions Burn Center, where she’s medical director. “The previous years it was anywhere from 30 to 50.”
Looking forward, this year’s numbers depend on how hot it gets, Nizamani said. “I'm expecting to see at least the same number that we saw last year, if not more.”
If it comes to this, preparation is underway: Preventing pavement burns and other heat-related illnesses is part of the rationale for Clark County’s cooling stations, which are air-conditioned public spaces scattered around the valley.
They activate once the local National Weather Service bureau issues an Extreme Heat Warning, like it did from May 30-31.
As the valley’s summers become more intense, the County’s director of Social Service, Jamie Sorenson, said he and his colleagues are currently looking into expanding when these stations go online.
That takes resources, and the recruitment of more cooling sites.
“There’s a particular need for cooling stations on holidays and weekends,” he said, “and [we’re] hoping to identify agencies that could stay open later.”
Guests: Rabia Nizamani, medical director, UMC Lions Burn Care Center; Jamie Sorenson, director of social service, Clark County
