HikeArizona.COM

A young couple (mid 20's) died near Picachio Peak this weekend. His body was found near their car, her body was found about a mile away on a dirt road. They both died of heat stroke (probably). It's a grim reminder of how careful we need to be. They were not elderly and they were not overweight. Their mistake was probably lack of water and/or getting lost. I do not want to see this happen to anyone else, so here is a little information to spread. A lot of it you probably know this, but it still needs to be said.
Heat illnesses are very easily prevented. To avoid a heat related illness, always carry and drink enough fluids. This can not be overstated! In the Arizona desert in summer, if you are thirsty it is too late. You must keep drinking or you will die! Always carry plenty of water, it's the one thing you can bring with you that is guaranteed to save your life. As long as you have water you can survive. Prescription and other drugs can increase your chances of a heat illness. If you are on an amphetamine, phenothiazine or anticholinergic you may want to avoid outdoor summer activities or take extra precautions. Alcohol use dehydrates you, do not mix alcohol with physical outdoor activities. Wear a hat that shields your head from the sun and wear light loose clothing. Save the tight clothes for the gym. Do not remove clothes when you get hot! Your clothes block the sun from your skin, removing your clothes exposes your skin to the sun and your body will heat up faster.
Early symptoms of a heat illness are; dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea, profuse sweating, thirst, weakness and light-headedness. Later symptoms are; cool, moist skin, dilated pupils, headache, pale skin, irrational behavior, nausea, vomiting and unconsciousness.
Without intervention and resolution of the problem you will die. In most cases, the first problem will be muscle cramps caused by loss of salt from heavy sweating. This is the first real sign from your body that something major is wrong. If untreated, cramps will lead to heat exhaustion, which is caused by dehydration and heat. If heat exhaustion goes untreated you will end up in heat stroke, which will cause you to go into shock and cause brain damage and death.
Heat stroke is when the body can no longer cool itself, usually you will stop sweating. Once you go into heat stroke, it only takes minutes before permanent damage is done to your body and brain. Symptoms of heat stroke are; dry, hot, red skin, fever above 102 (could be 108 or higher), dark urine, extreme confusion, rapid/shallow breathing, rapid/weak pulse, seizures, unconsciousness.
Treatment:
1. Remove the victim from the heat and elevate their feet. Removing them from the heat may be difficult, at least get them in the shade and put something between them and the ground (if you haven't noticed, the ground gets very hot in Arizona).
2. Apply cool wet clothes, or direct water, to the victims skin and fan them. If possible, place cold compresses on the victim's neck, groin, and arm pits.
3. Stop cooling the victim when their body temperature drops below 102. You could cause hypothermia.
4. Give the victim beverages (such as Gatorade) to sip slowly. About a half cup every 15 minutes. If they drink to fast they will vomit. Water will suffice, but salt water or a sports drink is better.
5. If the victim starts having seizures, protect them from injury.
6. Do not underestimate heat illness, get medical help ASAP!

DO NOTS!!!!
1. DO NOT give the victim medication
2. DO NOT give the victim salt tablets
3. DO NOT give the victim liquids with alcohol or caffeine
4. DO NOT give the victim anything by mouth if they are unconscious

You don't think it can happen to you, but it can. All pro tackle for the Minnesota Vikings was in a summer work out with the team (and coaches and trainers...) last year when he died of heat stroke. He left the field 3 times to vomit before falling unconscious and dying. He, and everyone around him, ignored all the symptoms.
I've worked myself into heat exhaustion working around the house and in the garage twice this year and I should know better. Luckily I recognized the symptoms and took action. I felt invincible because the fridge was right there, so I didn't stop to drink until it was almost too late. I never got cramps, I got hit with dizziness, light headedness and profuse sweating.

Be safe, drink lots of water!

I have noticed that a mild headache is my first sign/symptom that I need to drink up. I used to wonder why the ibuprofen went to work in magical time after I drank it down with a big glass of water. Duh. I drink a big glass of water now and give myself a few minutes to see before I take medicine for a headache. Most of the time it works.

I think of the things you mention like elevating the feet and cooling a person off in the shade as being TLC. Those are the exact things my husband did for me one time when I was in a bad way because of the heat. Don't let the time of year fool you either--my experience was in April in Surprise Valley on the Thunder River Trail. This was 20 years ago but I never forgot--it is scary. I remember that I did not sweat properly for several years after that so I started carrying a wet bandana in a ziplock bag to cool myself.

This is a good, well-thought-out post. Have you considered submitting it as an article? It strikes me as worthy material for the HAZ articles section.

Lizard

This was a shocking story to hear on the news today. Knowing how hard the heat is on me I am always surprised by those who hike local trails and jog around town in the intense heat of the midday sun. I've wondered how the heck they can even do it.

Thanks Daryl for taking the time to post all the info we should know about heat stroke. Very timely information.

Kelly

A 30 (?) year old woman was carried off of Squaw Peak by EMT members Sunday as well.

I see so many people on Squaw Peak and Camelback hiking with a pint of water or less. It still makes me shake my head when I see them.

GTG

A month ago I got called an ERT call at work. A desk jockey was not feeling very well. It turned out she was dehydrated. It was about 12 noon and all she had drunk was half a cup of coffee with a toast breakfast. In the dry heat, sweat evaporates before it has a chance to make droplets so people don't realize they're losing water. A personal rule of thumb I use is frequency of urination. If you have not passed water in the last 2 hours then start drinking until you do. I've been dehydrated a couple of times and it's not pleasant. Once I was floating down the Salt River and didn't realize I was dehydrated until I developed a killer headache with dizzyness. It took a couple of days to get right again.

There is a article about Mount Pelley in the new Arizona Highways. I quote from that article:"There are plenty of springs_sycamore and cottonwood trees usually mark the water holes" I gotta tell you, anyone who thinks there is plenty of water on Mount Pelley has his head well implanted in his butt. Secondly, if you have ever tried to find a spring, you know it's like finding a needle in a haystack in the dark.

This writer needs an education in water and it's importance. I never, ever depend on a ground water source in Arizona.

Your article was very well written and yes, you should put it in the article section for all to remember.

This morning, while doing my morning hike, I passed a guy carrying a medium sized burger king cup with water and ice in it...

We exchanged good mornings, and I asked him if he was ok and had enough water. He said he was fine.

Makes you wonder what goes thru peoples minds sometimes. :

I did Echo Canyon yesterday and saw at least three people that where on their way up for the second time with no water at all. I understand the benifits of pushing your limits, of whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger but this is just plain stupid. What are they thinking? :roll:

Stupidity is rampant - that's what the Darwin awards are all about. However, sometimes stupidity can also be confused with lack of knowledge, or overconfidence. I too shake my head at all the people that hike with little or no water in the summer months. Oh, well - to each his own, and they will reap their own reward. I think hydration is one of the least understood aspects of hiking - it's a problem nationwide and at all levels of hiking skill.

On a less sad note - for sheer entertainment value it's always fun to go to Squaw Peak or South Mountain around the time of the Fiesta Bowl or the Insight.com bowl. Winter is a far less stressful time to hike, and getting all the out-of-shape football fans who want to hike a mountain are great fun to be around. Watching all those mid-westerners or east coast dwellers who have never seen a desert or a mountain in their lives try to hike up the peak with flip-flops or other inappropriate gear...that is some fun stuff.

Squaw Peak is particularly fun to be on because of the many false peaks that you keep cresting on your way up - I got behind probably 30 differnt people on my way up one year and they kept asking me "how much further?" I'd point at the nearest apparent peak and say something like "That's about the 1/4 mark" just to see the sagging look on their face. I'm cruel, I know - but it sure was fun. Good times...

According to a news article, the couple were hiking on the south side of Picacho Peak and attempted a short cut back to their vehicle which they did not make. In the west valley, two men were out offroading near the White Tanks and got stuck. One man made it out and last I heard they were looking for the second person.

Even though I consider myself an experienced hiker, my last backpack into Grand Canyon 2 years ago I started to react badly to the heat. I just had water and drank plenty but did not eat enough. I felt nauseous whenever I tried to eat anything then, and could not eat my dinner that night, but I did make it down to the bottom okay and managed to regroup. This scared me quite a bit as I had never experienced anything like this before. After this happened, I read up on hiking in the heat and learned that it is much better to have electrolyte replacement drinks than plain water when it is hot. It is also, at the very same time, important to EAT FOOD while hiking and drinking. On my trip to Phantom Ranch last month, I followed these rules and I was amazed at how good I felt! We stopped to rest as needed and always ate--trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, energy bars, pretzels. I kept those little round pretzels in my pocket all the time, and popped them in my mouth as I hiked and drank. I also carried a little spray bottle and kept myself misted with water--the evap cooler effect--which of course only works when it is very dry out! But it does make a big difference too. A big brimmed hat helped too. Now, if only someone could help me to really cure this stupid toe jam problem I have...(actually, my friend told me to remove my liner socks and retie my boots so they were loose at the bottom and tighter at top, and that worked pretty well). Another important thing to remember is to hike early or late, not in the middle of the day unless you know there will be shade. Don't take chances hiking in the desert! Thanks for reminding us all that this really is a matter of life and death!