Heat wave puts pilgrim in the hospital

[peregrina2000]

According to this news article, http://www.hoy.es/extremadura/201508/10/estado-grave-peregrino-golpe-20150810214806.html, a 50 year old pilgrim on the Vdlp was hospitalized somewhere between Aljucen and Alcuescar because of heat stroke. He is in serious condition but it seems that he is improving.

This pilgrim was walking at 4 pm, which is an awfully hot time of day, and the temperature was around 40 (that's 104 F).

Be careful pilgrims! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[KinkyOne]

According to this news article, http://www.hoy.es/extremadura/201508/10/estado-grave-peregrino-golpe-20150810214806.html, a 50 year old pilgrim on the Vdlp was hospitalized somewhere between Aljucen and Alcuescar because of heat stroke. He is in serious condition but it seems that he is improving.

This pilgrim was walking at 4 pm, which is an awfully hot time of day, and the temperature was around 40 (that's 104 F).

Be careful pilgrims! Buen camino, Laurie

Ahm, well, I'm 45 and was walking even as late as 6PM (never had started before 8AM) this year on Levante. It's true that I skipped Toledo-Avila stretch but not only because of the heat. I completely agree that (and had experienced) walking earlier is better. But the distance will be the same Water, water, water!!! With sufficient intake of water before walking, in the morning, you do a lot. Search every shade along the way and if possible freeze two 0,5l plastic bottles of water what means that you're actually having a fridge in your backpack. Warm water after 20kms IS water, but it's WARM water. Without that I would bail out even sooner
Also SuerOral Hiposodico powder is a great help!!!

Ultreia!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

We all react differently to heat. I cannot deal with it. In my youth I was foolish enough to visit Rome in July but luckily was living with friends on Piazza Navona. I quickly learned Kinkyon's trick of freezimg water bottles over night, but remember that as the water freezes it expands, so leave a bit of room in them, also to have rom for actual water while the ice melts.

 

[navarro]

Ahm, well, I'm 45 and was walking even as late as 6PM (never had started before 8AM) this year on Levante. It's true that I skipped Toledo-Avila stretch but not only because of the heat. I completely agree that (and had experienced) walking earlier is better. But the distance will be the same Water, water, water!!! With sufficient intake of water before walking, in the morning, you do a lot. Search every shade along the way and if possible freeze two 0,5l plastic bottles of water what means that you're actually having a fridge in your backpack. Warm water after 20kms IS water, but it's WARM water. Without that I would bail out even sooner
Also SuerOral Hiposodico powder is a great help!!!

Ultreia!

Ahm, well, I'm 45 and was walking even as late as 6PM (never had started before 8AM) this year on Levante. It's true that I skipped Toledo-Avila stretch but not only because of the heat. I completely agree that (and had experienced) walking earlier is better. But the distance will be the same Water, water, water!!! With sufficient intake of water before walking, in the morning, you do a lot. Search every shade along the way and if possible freeze two 0,5l plastic bottles of water what means that you're actually having a fridge in your backpack. Warm water after 20kms IS water, but it's WARM water. Without that I would bail out even sooner
Also SuerOral Hiposodico powder is a great help!!!

Ultreia!

I think that heatstroke and dehidratation are different things. If you have a dehidratation you usually need water and mineral salts. and if you only drink water you will loss mineral salts. If you prepare a solution approximate 1 liter of water, juice of one lemon, 1 spoon of sugar, and a coffe spoon of sode bicarbonate you will recover in few hours. If you have water and some salt food or you drink a glass of water with some sat solved in it you also will recover.
A heat stroke is different, our body is not able to keep the corporal temperature in normal values mainly due to external high temperatures or high effort execises. It depends of everyone. If you feel signs of heatstroke as exhaustion, intense thirst is better to rest on shadow and ask for aid, better if somebody remains with you.
he heat stroke i

 

[Donna Sch]

I wonder if he had started in Mérida and not Aljucen. That would keep you out late even with an early start. Because Aljucen-Alcuescar was short enough to arrive in time for lunch.

 

[susanawee]

Whilst I am sympathetic with this Pilgrim's plight on one level, on another, I am not at all......I am always surprised when I read posts such as these and I wonder at the absolute stupidity of some people.....I would like to think that people do their homework thoroughly and research the type of conditions which they may or may not encounter along the way and prepare themselves accordingly. We hear and read of so many pilgrims, people who drive through deserts, people who walk through snow and icey conditions, you name it, we have all read about these - it is totally irresponsible to be so unprepared and to not use the commonsense that we were all born with. To keep walking in such conditions, no matter what they are is just utterly stupid and puts others at risk as well (by others, I mean those who have to go out and rescue them. My apologies if this post steps on toes as I realise it will, particularly in a forum, but I feel VERY strongly about this. Susanawee.

 

[ricitosdeplata]

I don't feel so bad about making so many stops when I get hot. At 68 I don't think my body deals with heat as well as a younger person.

 

[gracethepilgrim]

You Go Girl! I hope you're having a blast Ana. Where are you now?

 

[mountaingoat999]

Whilst I am sympathetic with this Pilgrim's plight on one level, on another, I am not at all......I am always surprised when I read posts such as these and I wonder at the absolute stupidity of some people.....I would like to think that people do their homework thoroughly and research the type of conditions which they may or may not encounter along the way and prepare themselves accordingly. We hear and read of so many pilgrims, people who drive through deserts, people who walk through snow and icey conditions, you name it, we have all read about these - it is totally irresponsible to be so unprepared and to not use the commonsense that we were all born with. To keep walking in such conditions, no matter what they are is just utterly stupid and puts others at risk as well (by others, I mean those who have to go out and rescue them. My apologies if this post steps on toes as I realise it will, particularly in a forum, but I feel VERY strongly about this. Susanawee.

I agree here on one hand 100% percent all day long.......... I actually met these people on numerous caminos.....most people who do the camino are not hill walkers.backpackers . remote walkers with out food supplies for days,they are unaware.....if your not aware and you don't know ......"you don't know". here lies the situation what may be common sense to us does not tally it will be to another..

I come across people from all walks of life and some totally unprepared....on caminos or about to venture off some place........one way is to explain this to them is there and then..in a way they can understand....for example when obtaining a pilgrims passport it could be included in a crystal clear warning in every language .....then they are aware.....