In the sweltering heat earlier this month, a woman who was hiking in a remote area of Arizona's Grand Canyon tragically passed away. The 57-year-old hiker's body was found on July 3 in the Tuweep region of the national park. Even the Grand Canyon has experienced temperature peaks of 114 degrees.
There have been other recent weather-related deaths in the US in addition to this one. In the summer, many individuals hike or trek to their beloved locations, but the heat makes these treks extremely risky. Particularly vulnerable are national parks. Every year, particularly in the West, numerous deaths from heat-related causes are documented.
More people have perished from heat-related causes at this stage in the summer than at any other time since 2007, according to records provided to ABC News by the NPS. According to National Park Service press releases, at least five people are thought to have passed away in national parks since the start of the summer owing to illnesses brought on by the heat.
On June 23, a 14-year-old boy passed away at Texas' Big Bend National Park, and his father perished while trying to find him. On July 3, a 65-year-old man was discovered dead inside his car in California, 30 yards off the road from North Highway Death Valley National Park.
Before embarking on a journey, people should give their bodies some time to acclimatize to their new surroundings, according to Kathleen Davenport, medical director for emergency departments at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical School. They ought to prehydrate as well. Between 10 am and 3 pm, people should stay indoors and be sure to take regular breaks in the shade. People should take a break in the shade after cooling down their bodies with a damp shirt or towel if they feel lightheaded, dizzy, or queasy.
