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What is hyperthermia? How a Bay Area family died on a California hike

What is hyperthermia? How a Bay Area family died on a California hike
heat related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate and I want to thank you all for being patient with us. As we investigated this case, as I have mentioned from the beginning, the garish and chung family have been our top priority as we dealt with this horrible event in our office has dedicated an entire team to this case And we have partnered with over 30 local state and federal agencies. The following timeline of events was created based off our evidence collection. In our investigation. On Saturday night, August 14, Jonathan used an app on his phone to plot out a route of travel of the heights cove hike. We know that using this app, he entered in waypoints and a point to point mapping and although this did not calculate the specific mileage or the elevation changes, this was not uncommon. As Jonathan had used additional hiking apps and he did take frequent hikes. On sunday morning august 15th around 7:45 a.m. A witness walking in the area saw the family truck heading in the direction of the Heights cove trailhead At eight a.m. that same witness observe the truck parked at the trailhead and no family was around The approximate temperature in that area was 74-76° And the elevation is approximately 30 880 ft. Jonathan, his wife Elin and their one year old daughter meet you who was writing in a backpack style child carrier and the family dog husky left on foot from the heights cove road trailhead, The family walked to two miles down the heights cove trail to the U. S. Forest Service Trail labeled. 20 E. Edward 0 1.4. The elevation at the trail intersection is approximately 1900 and 30 ft And the approximate temperatures were 92- 99°. They continued walking along this trail The 20 E. Edward 0 1.4, which parallels the south fork of the Mercedes River For approximately 1.9 miles to the Savage lundy Trail intersection at the Savage London Trail intersection. The elevation is approximately 1800 ft And the temperatures were approximately 99 to 103° Jonathan and Ellen. Meet you and a ski. Then began the steep incline of the Savage lundy Trail. This section of the trail is a south to southeast facing slope, exposing the trail to constant sunlight. There's very little shade Along the section of the trail due to the Ferguson Fire of 2018. The temperatures along the section of the trail, We're between 107 and 109° from the time of 12:50 p.m. To 2:50 p.m. It started to cool slightly around 4:50 PM. uh with the low degree of 89. From 105, The family hiked approximately two miles up the savage lundy trail And on Monday August 16 the family babysitter arrived for her normal shift to Jonathan and Ellen's home. The babysitter was unable to locate the family and called other family friends and attempt to locate them. The family continued to search continued to call Jonathan and Ellen throughout the day. After failed attempts to locate the family and friends, they reported them missing At 11 PM on Monday night to our office and our deputies began their investigation on Tuesday august 17th at 1:50 a.m. A. Mariposa County Sheriff's deputy searching the area located the vehicle at the trailhead and immediately requested a search and rescue mission to be initiated On Tuesday August 17 at four a.m. Search and rescue teams arrived and were able to locate both human and animal tracks and began tracking down the heights cove trail looking for them. At 8:40 a.m. Additional teams began down the opposite direction going down the Savage lundy Trail, California Highway Patrol was contacted And their helicopter H 40 was requested to assist in the search Tuesday august 17th at 9:30 a.m. Search and rescue teams located Jonathan. Ellen Meizhou and a ski approximately 1.6 miles from their vehicle on the Savage lundy Trail, all deceased and it should be noted when they were located and through our investigation there was one 85 ounce bladder water bladder backpack located with the family. This water bladder was empty and no other water containers. No other water filtration systems were located amongst the family
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What is hyperthermia? How a Bay Area family died on a California hike
On Thursday, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office announced the cause of death of a Bay Area family who died of not-easily-identifiable circumstances while hiking in the Sierra National Forest. John Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog were all found near an area known as Devil’s Gulch in the Southfork of the Merced River.On Thursday, the Sheriff's Office announced that they died from hyperthermia and possible dehydration. What is hyperthermia?Hyperthermia, opposite of its more common hypothermia, is when the body overheats and can't cool off quick enough, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This causes heat fatigue and heat stroke. If not quickly treated it can be fatal. Dehydration, exertion and pre-existing conditions can contribute to hyperthermia. According to the NIH, if you suspect that someone is suffering from a heat-related illness here's what you need to do:Get the person out of the heat and into a shady, air-conditioned or other cool place. Urge them to lie down.If you suspect heat stroke, call 911.Encourage the individual to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water.Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin. These are places where blood passes close to the surface of the skin, and the cold cloths can help cool the blood.If the person can swallow safely, offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine.NBC News contributed to this report.

On Thursday, the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office announced the cause of death of a Bay Area family who died of not-easily-identifiable circumstances while hiking in the Sierra National Forest.

John Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog were all found near an area known as Devil’s Gulch in the Southfork of the Merced River.

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On Thursday, the Sheriff's Office announced that they died from hyperthermia and possible dehydration.

What is hyperthermia?

Hyperthermia, opposite of its more common hypothermia, is when the body overheats and can't cool off quick enough, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This causes heat fatigue and heat stroke.

If not quickly treated it can be fatal.

Dehydration, exertion and pre-existing conditions can contribute to hyperthermia.

According to the NIH, if you suspect that someone is suffering from a heat-related illness here's what you need to do:

  • Get the person out of the heat and into a shady, air-conditioned or other cool place. Urge them to lie down.
  • If you suspect heat stroke, call 911.
  • Encourage the individual to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water.
  • Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin. These are places where blood passes close to the surface of the skin, and the cold cloths can help cool the blood.
  • If the person can swallow safely, offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine.

NBC News contributed to this report.