Arizona boy, 10, passed away after hiking in 113-degree heat

A very sad event happened in Arizona. A 10-year-old boy passed away from problems linked to the heat while hiking. This information comes from a news release by the Phoenix Police Department.

The young boy got sick during a hike with his family. It was Tuesday, July 2, at South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix.

According to an updated news release on Wednesday, the boy was flown by helicopter to an ambulance. Then, he was taken to the hospital. Despite attempts to save him, he arrived in very bad condition and later died from a heat-related health problem.

Phoenix Police detectives are looking into what led to the boy’s death. ABC News noted that the incident happened around a mile into the Mormon Trailhead.

The temperature reached 113 degrees Fahrenheit in Phoenix on the day of this terrible event, as The Weather Channel stated. The extreme heat played a big role in the boy’s critical condition.

Credit goes to South Mountain Park and Preserve, Phoenix, Arizona. This event is part of a disturbing pattern in the area. Last month, a mother of two died from heat exhaustion in Sedona, Arizona, as reported by People. She was visiting from Pennsylvania with her husband and their two daughters.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office made a statement after talking to her family. They said she suffered from heat exhaustion and didn’t get help quickly enough. They also warned hikers about the danger of the summer heat. They mentioned that temperatures can be much higher on trails near the rocks and with little shade.

Due to the rising number of heat-related problems, the City of Phoenix decided in April to close three popular hiking trails on days with an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service. These trails are Camelback Mountain’s Echo and Cholla Trails and all trails at Piestewa Peak Trailhead in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. On these days, these trails will be off-limits, parking lot gates will be shut, and signs will be posted to stop heat-related harms and deaths.

Additionally, the Phoenix Fire Department has started using a new way to help heat victims called cold water immersion. This method involves special ice bags to quickly cool down people suffering from severe heat-related issues. It works well when someone’s body temperature is over 104 degrees Fahrenheit and they show signs of mental confusion.

The National Weather Service stresses that we can prevent heat-related illnesses with the right precautions. They suggest avoiding long exposure to high heat, drinking lots of water, wearing breathable and light-colored clothes, eating small meals more often, keeping an eye on those most at risk, and staying inside during extreme heat.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include feeling dizzy, very thirsty, sweating a lot, feeling sick, and weak. Heat stroke is more serious and can cause confusion, dizziness, and fainting. If someone has a heat stroke, it’s vital to get medical help right away, and calling 911 is recommended.

This tragic event highlights the need to take heat warnings seriously and follow safety advice to avoid such sad outcomes.