VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Some people are hanging out at the beach to try and beat the heat, but there's a danger many should be aware of: hot sand.
While hot weather may be tolerable, the sand is a different story.
During peak afternoon heat on Thursday, 13News Now's infrared thermometer read 130 degrees Fahrenheit at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Bruce Nedelka, a public information officer with Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services said when the sand gets to be that hot, it can lead to severe burns.
Jacob Collins, a visitor from Cleveland, had a close call on Wednesday.
“I had to run across the sand, it got unbearable. I had to throw my towel down and stand on my towel and wait a little bit, but I could feel the bottom of my feet burning real bad,” said Collins.
On Thursday, he went to the beach early in the day, before the heat intensified.
Gary Felsh, Deputy Chief of Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service said during the summertime, the sand can reach up to 150 degrees.
“People have blistered up and had to go to the hospital because of the burns on their feet,” said Felsh.
Lifeguards are ready to administer first aid to those who suffer from burns. If the burns are severe, the lifesaving team will help someone get to the hospital.
Beachgoers will want to make sure to wear flip flops or other footwear while walking on the sand. Felsh said the surface of the sand is the hottest. Digging underneath the surface is also a way to get to cooler sand, but individuals can only do it for so long.