Two years ago, Evan Dishion, a young doctor in Arizona, went out for a hike with some friends.
But temperatures in the desert spiked to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, and the group ran out of water, got lost, and Evan started to overheat.
Dishion: “And ultimately, he lost consciousness before they found cell service.”
Amy Dishion, Evan’s wife, says that by the time help arrived, Evan had already died.
Today Amy is working to prevent the same tragedy from happening to others, especially as the climate warms.
She says extreme heat can harm anyone. Evan was healthy and active before he died.
So she urges people heading outdoors to check for heat alerts, bring plenty of water, and pack a whistle or a GPS device they can use to call for help.
Dishion: “It’s just important to be extra, extra prepared. I don’t want anybody else to lose their life. I don’t want any other spouses to be devastated. I don’t want any more children to lose their parent. … These aren’t just statistics. These are people and lives and families that are being adversely impacted forever when even just one person dies of the heat.”
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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