DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, California – A 42-year-old Belgian man was hospitalized after he received third-degree burns to the bottom of his feet in Death Valley National Park on Saturday, July 20. According to a press release from the National Park, the man was taking a short walk on the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes when his flip flops either broke or were lost in the sand, leading him to step on the ground with bare feet.
The air temperature in the area was around 123°F at the time, and the ground would have been significantly hotter. The man’s family and other visitors helped to carry him back to the parking lot and called for help.
“Park rangers determined the man needed to be transported to a hospital quickly due to his burns and pain level. Mercy Air’s helicopter was not able to safely land in Death Valley due to extreme temperatures, which reduce rotor lift. Park rangers transported the man in an ambulance to a landing zone at higher elevation, which was 109°F. Mercy Air transported the man to University Medical Center in Las Vegas.“
According to Stanford Health Care, a third-degree burn, or full thickness burn, occurs when the injury destroys the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. In some cases, a third-degree burn damages underlying bones, muscles and tendons. There is usually no sensation in the area either, as nerve endings are destroyed.
Park rangers at Death Valley National Park ask that summer visitors stay within a 10 minute walk of an air conditioned vehicle and avoid hiking after 10am. Drink plenty of water and eat plenty of salty snacks if you plan to visit Death Valley.