A traveler to Death Valley National Park was rescued and hospitalized on Saturday after suffering third-degree burns on his feet as the park continues to experience scorching summer temperatures, according to a press release by the National Park Service.
Park rangers believe the 42-year-old man visiting from Belgium was taking a short walk at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, a popular area of the park known for its dramatic sunrises and sunsets and named after the mesquite trees that grow there. It’s unknown whether his flip flops broke or were lost in the sand, leading him to be barefoot on the hot surface.
“The ground temperature would have been much hotter that air temperature, which was around 123°F,” NPS said in the release.
The man’s family called for help, and park rangers carried him to the parking lot.
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Due to the severity of the burns and his pain, the park rangers determined that the man needed immediate hospital care. Third-degree burns damage layers of the skin down to the tissue, possibly the nerve endings too. The bones, muscles and tendons might also be affected.
The extreme temperatures in Death Valley made it unsafe for the medevac helicopter to land, and the man was transported in an ambulance to a landing zone at a higher elevation with a slightly cooler temperature. There, a helicopter was able to pick him up and take him to University Medical Center in Las Vegas.
Park rangers have been warning visitors about Death Valley’s extreme heat this summer, with temperatures ranging between 100°F and 130°F. Located primarily in California, Death Valley is the hottest, driest and lowest national park, making it notable for travelers, but also dangerous.
Earlier this month, a motorcyclist died of heat exposure in the park as temperatures broke a record high of 128°F. The rider was part of a group of six other motorcyclists traversing the park, and one other had to be hospitalized for severe heat illness. Four of the riders were treated within the park and released.
“Park rangers recommend that summer travelers to Death Valley National Park stay within a 10 minute walk of an air conditioned vehicle, not hike after 10 a.m., drink plenty of water, eat salty snacks, and wear a hat and sunscreen,” NPS said.
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