NM - French tourists dead, child rescued at White Sands

[Tssiemer]

This is just crazy. I can't even imagine. Did they get lost? I was kind of imagining them huddled up together somewhere with the 9 year old holding on to a water bottle with a few sips left. But I guess the mom died and they left her then the dad died. Did the kid make it back or was he rescued?


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[Tssiemer]

Never mind the answer is in the title.


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[LinasK]

I can't believe you all are blaming the victims in this tragedy. Clearly the Park Service is at fault for allowing people to hike in unsafe conditions. When swimming conditions are unsafe @ the national lakeshore people are kept out of the water. These hikers obviously did not see the danger & it was the authorities responsibility to protect them. I see lawsuit.

the National Park Service warns summertime visitors to hike only in the cool hours and carry at least 1 gallon (3.8 liters)of water per person.The high temperature at the monument Tuesday was 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 Celsius), according to the National Weather Service.
House said warning signs were posted in several languages, including French, at the trailhead.

<snip>Park rangers on a routine patrol found the family. more at link:http://news.yahoo.com/sheriff-french-pair-died-us-desert-likely-saved-235924719.html#

 

[KaaBoom]

White Sands, New Mexico — Day 2

If you’ve never been hiking or exploring in White Sands, there is one thing you have to understand. While most hiking areas threaten, “Do not leave the trail!”, in White Sands, there isn’t much of a trail. There are posts. That is all. When you are at one post, you seek out the next post; if you find it, you proceed, but if you don’t, you turn back. We don’t always find the post. We do always proceed. Shhhh.

If you’re a little savvy, you can mark your position by the mountains, which makes it significantly less dangerous than it sounds. Still, when you unleash seven kids in that enormous sandbox and say, “Have fun!”, it’s nothing less than incredible.

The five-mile hike requires hikers to sign in and out, so the rangers know you’re not dead. As you can see, this hike took us six hours, which seems like a long time for something listed as a five-mile hike,

White Sands, New Mexico — Day 2

 

[SophieRose]

Timeline:

1:00 pm Family starts hike.
3:30 pm Family starts having problems.
5:30 pm Rangers find mother's body not far from trailhead. Two miles away, father's lifeless body found. Child found alive, dehydrated and badly sunburned.

Son went home on Saturday and is now with his father's parents.

It was reported that they started the hike at 1:00 pm and started having problems at 3:30 pm

 

[LinasK]

Timeline:

1:00 pm Family starts hike.
3:30 pm Family starts having problems.
5:30 pm Rangers find mother's body not far from trailhead. Two miles away, father's lifeless body found. Child found alive, dehydrated and badly sunburned.

Son went home on Saturday and is now with his father's parents.

It was reported that they started the hike at 1:00 pm and started having problems at 3:30 pm

That's problematic right there- even tourists from France should know that that's the hottest part of the day, no matter where you are! Insane to go hiking in the desert between 1-3 in the afternoon, even if you had tons of water!!

 

[bwt42]

You can't regulate stupidity, survival of the fittest. What was the park service supposed to do??? They probably ignored post signs.

In our litigious society stupidity is ignored as an okay reason why someone dies or is harmed. At the Indiana Dunes you are restrained from going in the water.

 

[Ladylub]

In our litigious society stupidity is ignored as an okay reason why someone dies or is harmed. At the Indiana Dunes you are restrained from going in the water.

Its not an okay reason they died but what happened to personal accountability?

 

[Elley Mae]

snippets

The family had two 20-ounce water bottles when they set out on the hike along the national monument's Alkali Flat trail at about 1 p.m., House said.

There is no vegetation or shade, and the National Park Service warns summertime visitors to hike only in the cool hours and carry at least a gallon of water per person.

House said warning signs were posted in several languages, including French, at the trailhead.

The boy told deputies that his mother began feeling ill and complained of an injured knee about a mile and a half into the hike.

He said the father and son were unaware that she was in trouble and continued on the trail, making it about 2,000 feet before the father collapsed.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/08/1...n-new-mexico-child-rescued/?intcmp=latestnews

 

[jjenny]

In our litigious society stupidity is ignored as an okay reason why someone dies or is harmed. At the Indiana Dunes you are restrained from going in the water.

Is somebody standing outside your door preventing you from doing potentially dangerous activities, such as driving?

 

[LinasK]

In our litigious society stupidity is ignored as an okay reason why someone dies or is harmed. At the Indiana Dunes you are restrained from going in the water.

This is a large, large desert. I don't think you can constraint it with fences.

 

[EllieBee]

Its not an okay reason they died but what happened to personal accountability?

MOO, but I think that was the not-so-subtle, attempt at political, point the poster you quoted was trying to make.

 

[Elley Mae]

The park recommends hiking during cooler hours, but the family set off at around 1 p.m. on a day when temperatures topped 100 degrees and failed to sign in at the entrance to the trail, which goes up and down through sand dunes and offers no shade whatsoever.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...-died-nm-desert-used-water-save-son/31401227/

bbm

 

[bwt42]

Its not an okay reason they died but what happened to personal accountability?

Personal accountability is out of fashion. Our country has decided that personal responsibility is trumped by someone with deep pockets gotta pay. The fight is over. If someone is hurt, someone is gonna pay. I'm not saying I agree with this, but it's the way it is.

 

[Tssiemer]

So what are we saying? It's their fault for hiking at the time of the day the warning signs say not to hike but the warning signs were not enough so it's the governments fault?


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[Laughing]

but what happened to personal accountability?

I've heard that Personal Responsibility is alive & well & living in New Zealand.

 

[LinasK]

This is a large, large desert. I don't think you can constraint it with fences.

Just wanted to clarify that I don't think it's enforceable to keep people out during the heat. IIRC, it's not like Muir Woods, where there is an entrance gate and you pay an admission fee. I think these trailheads are straight off the parking lot. I've never heard of any desert keeping people out when it's hot, and who would determine what temperature meets that criterion? It's different for everybody, and Arizona heat (dry heat) feels way different than humid heat. In fact, I can tolerate higher heat in Arizona than California because it's drier.

 

[LinasK]

[h=2]Heat Stroke[/h]Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.


Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke
Warning signs vary but may include the following:
• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache

• Dizziness
• Nausea

more at link: http://patch.com/california/burlingame-hillsborough/can-you-recognize-heat-emergency-0


Apparently, this couple died of heat stroke. My daughter experienced heat exhaustion, which is a milder form a couple of weeks ago.

 

[KaaBoom]

Just wanted to clarify that I don't think it's enforceable to keep people out during the heat. IIRC, it's not like Muir Woods, where there is an entrance gate and you pay an admission fee. I think these trailheads are straight off the parking lot. I've never heard of any desert keeping people out when it's hot, and who would determine what temperature meets that criterion? It's different for everybody, and Arizona heat (dry heat) feels way different than humid heat. In fact, I can tolerate higher heat in Arizona than California because it's drier.

This is a large, large desert. I don't think you can constraint it with fences.

Thats true, but they could put a fence around the parking area at the trailhead, with gates, so they could close the trail at certain times, of the day. At very least I think they could use better warning signs. I would probably use something like "WARNING Extreme temperatures, no shade, no water. Be prepared. People have died on this trail from the extreme conditions."

 

[Footwarrior]

Thats true, but they could put a fence around the parking area at the trailhead, with gates, so they could close the trail at certain times, of the day. At very least I think they could use better warning signs. I would probably use something like "WARNING Extreme temperatures, no shade, no water. Be prepared. People have died on this trail from the extreme conditions."

At the entrance gat to White Sands the rangers hand out maps and pamphlets that warn visitors of the hazards. They also recommend a stop at the visitors center before venturing out on the dunes.

This is a natural area not a theme park. Yes, people have died on that trail. Thousands of others have enjoyed it's natural splendor without getting into trouble. They paid attention to what was printed on the signs and maps. Or even better took the time to talk to the staff at the visitors center.