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Tonya Papanikolas Reporting So many hikers have been injured this month that rescue crews and firefighters are trying to hammer home some important advice.
Cpt. Brian Schmitt: "Make sure you take plenty of water for hydration. Communication devices help anywhere around here."
Today a 12-year-old boy hiking with his relatives on the Bell Canyon trailhead fell backwards and injured his arm. It's the latest accident in a string of hiking-related injuries and falls.
Rescuers say that especially in this heat, people are overestimating what they can do. They may not be in shape, they're going too far, and not drinking enough water. They don't realize how hot it is until they're on a steep mountain trail.
Lary Deuel, 65, was hiking on Indian Trail in Ogden Canyon yesterday when he overexerted himself and had a heart attack.
Sgt. Dale Bridges, Weber County Sheriff's Office: "It's a pretty steep trail. It's very rocky. It's not a very easy trail to hike."
Two other hikers saw Deuel struggling and tried to perform CPR but couldn't revive him. The Weber County Sheriff's Office says Deuel had previous medical problems and was hiking alone.
Sgt. Dale Bridges: "If you've got ill health or problems physically, make sure you take those into account so that you stay safe while you're hiking."
A 32-year-old hiker was also alone when he fell on a rock field in Big Cottonwood Canyon yesterday. A pair of hikers heard him yelling and grabbed the man's cell phone to call 911.
Search and rescue crews hiked about four hours to get to him before he was flown to the hospital with fractures in his hip and neck.
Cpt. Brian Schmitt, Sandy Fire Department: "That's probably the most important thing is have those communication devices, and let people know where you're at."
Search and rescue crews in Weber and Salt Lake Counties say they've had a rescue almost every weekend this summer. This month alone, KSL has reported on 11 Utah hiking accidents. A few of them were likely related to the heat.
Sgt. Bridges: "I think right now as hot as it's been, you need to know the area, be very careful, take a lot of water with you, stay hydrated."
Cpt. Schmitt: "You're gonna want to tell people where you're going, when you're leaving, when you're expected to be back."
Rescue crews say people who haven't worked out in awhile shouldn't just jump into hiking in this weather.
Don't think just because you're in the mountains, it will be a lot cooler. It was 101 degrees in Ogden Canyon yesterday.
Of course, it's also important to hike with a friend so that if you get into trouble they can call for help.
