San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Deadly dangers of extreme heat
Outdoor enthusiasts should heed warnings on holiday weekend
It’s been just over a year since California was rocked by the story of a family in Mariposa County that died on a hike. The investigation captivated readers across the state, as theories — from toxic algae to long-lost mines — abounded as to what could have turned a day hike to such a tragic conclusion. The answer, in the end: heat.
As the unofficial end of summer, Labor Day weekend is often a time to enjoy the outdoors. But amid an extreme heat wave, officials are stressing the dangers.
Stories over the past year of hikers and runners who headed into triple-digit heat and died, like the family from Mariposa, are resonating with new urgency in a changing climate. With the state’s worst heat wave of the year peaking over Labor Day weekend, officials say residents planning to get outside should heed those warnings.
“If you’re going to be recreating in really extreme temperatures, it’s probably better to think about an alternative option,” said Gabe McKenna, public safety superintendent with California State Parks. “Those trails and parks will still be there when it’s not 105 degrees. It’s not the best time to put yourself in a situation that may be extremely dangerous.”
In an unusual Saturday morning news conference, state officials warned Californians to remain vigilant, safe and hydrated during the Labor Day weekend.
Throughout the holiday, dangerously high temperatures are forecast to hit the Bay Area. Cities in the East Bay and North Bay are projected to hit triple digits on Labor Day. The intense
heat prompted some parks to shut down over the weekend, including dozens in the East Bay Regional Park District on Sunday and Monday.
Similar circumstances have meant otherwise healthy Californians died.
Popular UC Berkeley chemistry Professor Phillip Geissler stopped for a hike on a hot July day in Moab, Utah, on his way home from an academic conference. His body was found near a trailhead two days after he was reported missing. Geissler was 48 and in excellent shape. In July 2021, endurance runner Philip Kreycik set off at Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park during a day that soared to 106 degrees, and was probably killed from the intense heat. Compared with other weather-related hazards such as floods, cold snaps and tornadoes, heat kills more people each year on average, according to the National Weather Service.
What happens to the body in extreme temperatures?
When temperatures rise, our bodies produce sweat to keep us cool. But this cooling mechanism gets overwhelmed after prolonged heat exposure.
For people who decide to spend time outdoors this weekend, it will be critical to notice warning signs of heat-related illness.
Labor Day weekend in Yosemite National Park will be near or at capacity as usual. It will also be 106 degrees on the valley floor, with smoke from two fires hazing the air. Campers and lodgers will naturally want to escape the stagnant air by hiking up the trail toward cooler elevation and in that exertion is where the true danger lies.
“With the excessive heat and smoke this weekend people can get into trouble faster,” said Yosemite park ranger Scott Gediman. “Dehydration, heat exhaustion, exhaustion and muscle cramping could be prevalent.” Gediman knows. He’s been a Yosemite ranger for 26 years, and it can still take him by surprise to the point where he has to duck off to the side of a trail, find shade, drink water and rest until the dizzy spell leaves. It could take 15 minutes, but he is not embarrassed, even in his Smokey Bear ranger hat, gray shirt and green pants.
“It is nothing to be ashamed of when you feel these symptoms,” he said. “Just know your limits and take extra precautions when hiking in heat like we are experiencing right now.”
If left unchecked, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, which can result in confusion and altered mental status.
“People get to the point where it’s so hot that their brain isn’t functioning properly,” said Jeremy Lacocque, an emergency physician at San Francisco General Hospital and medical director of the San Francisco Fire Department.
The human body doesn’t work properly at high temperatures. The situation is similar to how a car overheats outside its normal operating range — the engine isn’t designed to work beyond certain temperatures. Our bodies face the same limitations.
While heat exhaustion and heat stroke rightfully come to mind when temperatures soar, other illnesses and chronic conditions also worsen. Prolonged heat exposure can put stress on the heart, for example. That could lead to heart attacks and certain types of stroke.
“The everyday issues that we run into in health care are further exacerbated by worse heat,” Lacocque said. “Everything gets worse.”
How to stay safe
Some populations face a higher risk for developing heat-related illnesses. Older adults, for example, generally have more difficulty regulating their body temperatures. “Pregnant women are another very high-risk group that are often missed in heat alerts,” said Rupa Basu, an epidemiologist with California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Signs of dehydration, such as vomiting, might be overlooked as pregnancy side effects.
With temperatures expected to rise in the coming days, people can take steps to keep cool.
“Visitors are reminded to plan ahead,” said Dave Mason, a public information officer for East Bay Regional Park District. “Visit during cooler parts of the day. Bring plenty of water and avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine.”
In addition, hikers or runners should ensure they have a route planned on a map and that they stick to it. Staying on trail, drinking a lot of water and keeping others in the loop on the plan is paramount.
Needless to say, these tips are intended for recreation areas when they’re open.
The places people go to escape heat can present different risks.
Ocean Beach, Stinson Beach, Muir Beach, Rodeo Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, China Beach, Baker Beach and Crissy Field can all be expected to be jammed, with parking lots full by 11 a.m. Among these beaches in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, only Stinson Beach is recommended for swimming because it is the only one staffed by lifeguards.
“We recognize that people want to swim,” said Charlie Strickfaden, communications director for the recreation area, “but remember that heat kills and cold water kills.”
The danger isn’t just because the water is a cool 50 degrees. There are also waves and currents to contend with.
As such, Strickfaden recommends “only go in as far as your ankles.” Ocean rescue from various agencies will be on alert for people who ignore the ominous danger signs posted on the beach.
“If we can scare somebody off from making a bad mistake and get them safely home,” Strickfaden said, “then that makes a happy Labor Day weekend.”