Death Valley National Park, California, CA, USA.Photo:Getty
Getty
A 71-year-old man died Tuesday at a Death Valley National Park trailhead in a possible heat-related death, according to park officials.
The unidentified Los Angeles man collapsed outside the restroom at the Golden Canyon hiking trail, the National Park Service said in anews release. Park officials believe the man, who was carrying a backpack and was sporting a sunhat and hiking gear, had just finished hiking the “popular trail.”
Other visitors at the park noticed the man and called 911 at around 3:40 p.m. local time, the NPS said.
“National Park Service and Inyo County Sheriff’s Office responded,” the release said. “Mercy Air’s helicopter was not able to respond due to the high temperature.”
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Park rangers arrived minutes later and performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED), but were unable to save the victim.
The NPS noted Tuesday’s incident is “possibly” thesecond heat-related fatalityin Death Valley this summer. On July 3, a 65-year-old man was found dead inside a car that had two flat tires and a broken air conditioning system.
Citing the National Weather Service, Death Valley has had 28 days with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees this year. Heat stroke occurs when the body’s core temperature surpasses 104 degrees.
On average, about 702 heat-related deaths are recorded in the United States each year, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). Heat-related illnesses include cardiovascular and respiratory issues, renal failure, electrolyte imbalance, kidney stones, preterm birth and more.
Heat-related deaths are oftentimes due to heat stroke and other related conditions, as well as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and cerebrovascular disease, which impact blood flow to the brain, the CDC says.
Older adults are among those who are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses and deaths. Young children, pregnant people, athletes, outdoor workers and people with heart or lung conditions are also at increased risk.
source: people.com
