Latest news with #heatillness
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What we know about an avid 74-year-old hiker found dead on popular Payson trail
Police are investigating the death of a 74-year-old man who was found unresponsive on a popular hiking trail in Payson. On the afternoon of May 28, the Payson Police Department said it received reports of a man who did not return from a hike on the Boulder Loop Trail. An easily accessible trail near the southern edge of Payson, the Boulder Loop Trail draws hikers who want to see unique rock formations found along the path. Here's what we know about reported circumstances around the man's death and a warning given from authorities. Police said it was unusual for the 74-year-old man, described as an avid and well-prepared hiker, not to return from a trip, prompting someone to report him missing. He was known for bringing ample food and water on his hikes, making his disappearance especially concerning. Only a few hours after his disappearance was reported, authorities received a call from a hiker who found the man dead near the trail. An initial investigation revealed no signs of foul play and pointed to heat-related illness as a possible factor in the man's death, police said. "The death is believed to be from natural causes," the Payson Police Department said in a statement. The man, who remained unidentified, was transported to the Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office, where an investigation would continue. Police warned that cooler temperatures forecast for northern Arizona could prove deceptive and said hikers should take steps to prevent extreme weather from enabling a tragedy. "Temperatures in rim country can be very hot or very cold," the Payson Police Department wrote in a statement. The department recommended that those headed to the area should dress appropriately for the weather, bring plenty of food, water and electrolytes. The National Park Service said because of the heat, hikers should remain on trails within their ability and rest regularly. The National Park Service advised that people avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer months to avoid the worst of the heat. People were advised to drink at least one quart of water per hour of hiking and to pre-hydrate before hitting the trails. While hiker deaths on Arizona's many trails are not uncommon, they are typically the result of noncriminal factors. Most recently on May 22, another experienced hiker, Hannah Moody, 31, was found dead after she went missing on a north Phoenix-area hiking trail. Her death remains under investigation. 'She loved hard': Family, friends reflect on Hannah Moody's death while hiking On May 15, Dennis Smith, 74, visiting Arizona from Washington, died on the Grand Canyon's North Kaibab Trail. Bystanders and park service personnel could not resuscitate Smith at the scene. Days earlier, Noah Farabaugh, 33, died after he was part of a group of five hikers experiencing heat issues near the Wave Cave trailhead in the Superstition Mountains near Mesa. 'He knew what he was doing': Hiker's death in Superstition Mountains shocked family Summer 2024 saw eight Grand Canyon trekkers die while hiking different areas of the national park. Four of them were over the age of 55. In early September, a 71-year-old man was pulled from the Colorado River following a boating incident. Just days earlier, a 59-year-old also died in the river. In late August, two hikers — one 60 and the other 80 — died in separate incidents. Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@ Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Avid 74-year-old hiker found dead on popular Payson trail
CBS News
16-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
South Florida high school football players tackle heat with strict safety protocols, ice baths
As spring football ramps up in South Florida, so do the risks of heat-related illness. At True North Classical Academy in Miami, the athletic staff is taking no chances -- using ice baths, heat index monitors and mandatory water breaks to protect student-athletes from extreme temperatures and rising humidity. Ice baths and early intervention Mathew Collazo, the school's head athletic trainer, said players are closely monitored and immediately treated if they show signs of overheating. "We will get them in an ice bath, we will get an ice towel over their head, we will cool their body temperature," Collazo said. "Then we will disqualify them for practice for that day until they're kinda ready." Coaches also carry a heat index checker—required under state law—that determines when practice must end. If the temperature hits 92 degrees or higher, they shut it down. "With these boys running and exerting as much energy as they are, it can weigh on them," Collazo said. "Something that is maybe 90 degrees outside can feel like a 98 or a 99 or even into the triple digits." Culture of safety and awareness Head Coach Greg Laffere said part of protecting players is encouraging them to speak up before a health issue becomes serious. "The ability is availability. The kids know that, so all of a sudden they get heat illness—they're down several days," Laffere said. Players are required to hydrate and eat ahead of practice. Water breaks are scheduled every 20 minutes, with hydration stations set up in shaded areas that can feel up to 20 degrees cooler. Collazo adds that all coaches are trained to recognize early signs of heat exhaustion and there's no stigma around taking a break to cool down. Cool relief on the bay While players battle the heat on the field, others find relief on the water. CBS News Miami spoke with Coconut Grove resident Brittany Burdine, who chose to spend her day out by the bay. "It's a lot cooler on the water than being in the inner city unless you're in a room," Burdine said. As temperatures soar across the region, both athletes and residents alike are finding ways to stay safe and beat the heat.
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Arizona man dies on mountain hike amid sweltering temperatures
A 33-year-old man died while hiking in Arizona's Gold Canyon on Sunday as temperatures reached about 100F (37.8C), officials said. Noah Farabaugh, from Arizona, was hiking with a group of five people in the Superstition Mountains, about 40 miles east of Phoenix, when he started having a medical emergency at around 12.45pm. 'When deputies arrived, the man was deceased,' a spokesperson for the Pinal county sheriff's office told the Guardian. 'No foul play is suspected.' The Pinal county medical examiner will determine the cause of death. The Superstition fire and medical district said on Facebook the incident was likely due to heat-related problems. One member of the fire crew told Fox News that the group had been on the trail for roughly six hours and with little water. The other four hikers were rescued and did not want to go to the hospital. Officials warned that heat illness can occur quickly, even for experienced hikers, especially as Arizona temperatures can rise above 110F (43.3C) in summer. They also said most heat-related deaths happen between 10am and 4pm, the hottest time of day, with even dry heat causing fast dehydration. Hikers can lose up to 1 liter of sweat per hour while hiking. The Superstition Mountains rise over 6,000ft above the Sonoran desert. The Superstitions are part of Tonto national forest and include the Superstition wilderness area, which can only be reached by hiking or horseback. The Superstition wilderness area is about 160,000 acres of rugged desert, according to the Visit Mesa website. The name comes from stories told by the Akimel O'odham people, who spoke of strange sounds, disappearances, and deaths in the mountains, according to Phoenix's tourist page. In the 1840s, the Peralta family from Mexico was said to have discovered gold mines in the area, but their final expedition ended in an Apache ambush, giving rise to the name of the trailhead Massacre Grounds, according to Arizona State Parks. Later, in the 1870s, a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz, known as the 'Dutchman', supposedly rediscovered the lost mine with the help of a Peralta descendant. He and his partner allegedly hid gold near Weaver's Needle, but the mine's location was never confirmed. Waltz died in 1891, reportedly revealing clues to the mine's location to a neighbor, but no one has successfully found it since. The tale of the 'Lost Dutchman's Mine' has inspired many searchers, some of whom met mysterious or deadly fates.
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Protecting kids from the sun in early childhood could prevent cancer, experts say
As summer nears in Maryland, MedStar Health is marking the fifth annual National Safe Sun Week, which begins on Monday, May 19, by raising awareness about the risks of sun exposure and offering guidance on skin protection and heat illness. MedStar Health conducted a national survey of adults and found several gaps in knowledge when it comes to sun safety and skin protection. Survey reveals many adults are undereducated about heat illnesses According to the survey, a majority of adults are not getting their skin checked regularly. 70% of respondents said they do not receive annual skin exams from a dermatologist or medical provider. Among adults over the age of 45, nearly half reported never having had a skin check at all. The survey also revealed that many adults are undereducated when it comes to heat illness. Only a small portion of respondents could accurately identify all the types of heat illness or their symptoms, and a significant number of adults aged 65 and older were unaware that they face an increased risk. Extreme heat remains the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. Over the past quarter of a century, the number of heat-related deaths has more than doubled from about 1,100 to more than 2,300 in 2023. Sun protection in early childhood Another common misconception highlighted by the survey is how quickly cars heat up in direct sunlight. Many survey respondents underestimated the danger. In reality, the internal temperature of a car parked in the sun can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. For parents, the findings bring a crucial health message into focus: Sun protection should begin in early childhood. The survey found that only about a third of adults were aware that a bad sunburn in childhood is more dangerous than one in adulthood. In fact, studies show that a single blistering sunburn during childhood can double a person's lifetime risk of developing melanoma. "Sunscreen isn't just for beach days," said Dr. Min Deng, a Mohs micrographic surgeon with MedStar Health. "It should be a part of your child's routine for outdoor sports, festivals, or even just a trip to the park." Dr. Deng emphasized that the long-term consequences of sun exposure are often underestimated. "The vast majority of the sun damage we accumulate in our lifetime, 50 to 80%, happens before age 20," she said. "The damage doesn't appear overnight, but it accumulates, and by the time skin cancer develops decades later, it's already baked in." Dr. Deng said she is now seeing younger patients, some as young as 18, being diagnosed with skin cancers such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Experts are encouraging families to make sun protection a daily habit. They recommend using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapplying it throughout the day, even when it's cold or cloudy.
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Heat advisory issued in parts of Southern California as high temperatures expected over weekend
A heat advisory has been issued for parts of Southern California as a high-pressure system is expected to bring warm weather over Mother's Day weekend. KCAL News issued a Next Weather Alert through Saturday for a burst of heat. The alert was issued to warn communities about a weather event that might disrupt routines. The National Weather Service also issued a heat advisory that will go into effect at 10 a.m. on Friday and will remain until 9 p.m. on Saturday. The advisory will include the Los Angeles and Ventura County valleys, the Santa Monica Mountains and the southern Salinas Valley. Forecasters said daytime temperatures could reach up to 100 degrees, which increases the risk of heat illness. Sensitive populations like young children, elderly individuals and those without air conditioning are at a higher risk. The NWS recommends people drink fluids, stay indoors in air-conditioned rooms during peak heat and stay out of the sun.
