Unholy Trinity Leads to Death in a Heat Wave

Image by leohtt from PixabayI’m referring to ignorance, hubris, and idiocy. They’re behind two more heat-caused deaths during our current “heat wave” – or, as we call it in Arizona, summer.

Ignorance Plus Heat: A Dangerous Combo

I feel so sorry for the Midwestern family who lost their 10-year-old son this past week. They went on a hike on one of the local trails around Phoenix, starting at 9:30 AM on a hot July day.

It was already too hot to go hiking!

If they’d only gone with any of us in the know. We go hiking this time of year at 5:30 AM. We’re back before 9:30.

By 1:30 PM that little boy was already in big trouble. Even though he was airlifted to a local hospital, he was well on his way to complete organ failure. There’s no reversing that destructive cascade once it gets going.

My heart goes out to the family. Just like it does every year when this happens. And it does happen every year.

Locals aren’t immune. Some think they’re tough enough to deal with it. Mother Nature says otherwise. This is hubris on steroids.

Then There’s Idiocy

This morning’s newspaper reported on a motorcycle group who decided to ride through Death Valley. Look, it’s always hot there this time of year. And this year it’s approaching record temperatures of 128-130 degrees.

Imagine putting on safety gear, if they in fact did. Leathers. Helmet, Gloves.

Of course, there’s no air conditioning on a motorycle.

One of the riders was so overwhelmed by the heat that he collapsed and died on the spot.

And there’s no emergency airlift when it’s over 120 degrees.

This is maybe a combination of hubris and idiocy.

Where’s the Common Sense?

I have no answer to that question. Apparently common sense wasn’t in play in either scenario.

It’s just sad.