July 26th 2024.
Over the weekend, a European tourist visiting California's Death Valley National Park suffered third-degree burns on his feet. According to park rangers, the visitor had briefly walked barefoot on the sand dunes, causing his injuries. The rangers shared on Thursday that the man was quickly taken to a nearby hospital in Nevada for treatment.
Due to language barriers, the rangers were unable to immediately determine the cause of the incident. They mentioned that the visitor, a 42-year-old Belgian, may have lost or broken his flip-flops while taking a short walk on Saturday at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The ground temperature that day was a scorching 123 degrees Fahrenheit, much higher than the already hot air temperature.
This summer, Death Valley National Park has experienced record-breaking temperatures in the desert, which is situated below sea level near the California-Nevada border. In this extreme heat, the man's family had to call on other visitors to carry him to a parking lot. Rangers then drove him to a higher elevation where a medical helicopter could safely land, as the extreme temperatures make it difficult for helicopters to take off and land.
The man was eventually flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, which has a specialized Lions Burn Care Center. During the summer months, this center often treats patients with contact burns, similar to the ones the Belgian man suffered, from surrounding areas in Nevada and California.
Unfortunately, hot surfaces like asphalt and concrete are also hazardous in urban areas of the desert Southwest. The Las Vegas burn center mainly treats patients from the surrounding urban area, where temperatures regularly reach triple digits in the summer. Similarly, in Arizona's Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, thermal injuries from hot surfaces are common.
Even the air temperature in Death Valley can be dangerous, as shown by the recent death of a motorcyclist from heat-related causes. In fact, the park has a large red stop sign at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, warning visitors of the dangers of extreme heat after 10 am. Park rangers advise against hiking in the valley after 10 am and recommend staying within a 10-minute walk of an air-conditioned vehicle.
To stay safe in Death Valley during the summer, rangers suggest drinking plenty of water, eating salty snacks, and protecting yourself from the sun by wearing a hat and sunscreen. And for those interested in watching the Olympic Games Paris 2024, every moment and medal can be viewed live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now, with the option to watch ad-free and in 4K on Stan Sport.
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