Please do not get yourself killed by not taking the heat seriously
- Record-breaking heatwaves have left some areas of the US with triple-digit temperatures.
- Extreme heat is deadly — do not underestimate it, and do not take unnecessary risks.
This PSA is simple: Do not mess around with extreme heat. Seriously.
A 71-year-old man was found dead in California's Death Valley National Park on Tuesday while temperatures reached a scorching 121 degrees Fahrenheit. The cause of death is unclear, but park rangers believe the extreme heat played a role. The man collapsed near the trailhead of a popular hike, but it was even too hot for a helicopter to respond.
Death from extreme heat and dehydration is more common than many people realize.
In June, a teen died in Big Bend National Park in Texas during extreme heat, perhaps around 108 degrees, while hiking with his brother and stepdad. His stepdad also died in a car accident while driving to find help for the boy. And in August 2021, a family of three, including their 1-year-old daughter, and their dog died of heat and dehydration while hiking in California's Sierra National Forest.
"Their deaths are truly a tragedy," survival expert Cat Bigney previously told Insider. "Unfortunately, it happens every year to unprepared adventurers."
With record-breaking heat currently impacting much of the US, it's more important than ever for Americans to take extreme heat as seriously as they take extreme cold.
It's best not to be outside in extreme heat at all, let alone do anything active like hiking.
The CDC recommends staying inside an air-conditioned building. If you're older than 65, you're especially at risk for heat-related illness.
If you must go outside, try to go in the mornings or evenings and avoid the heat of the day when temperatures are in the high 90s or triple digits.
You should also be prepared for the worst:
- Assume your car will break down and carry loads of extra water.
- Let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back, so they can call for help if you don't return (a good idea anytime you are hiking or will be out of cell service).
And don't take unnecessary risks — like flocking to the hottest place on Earth just to take a selfie with a big thermometer that reads 130 degrees.