Summer Bringing Potential Dangers, Including Brain-Eating Amoebas and Animal Attacks

Posted: August 1, 2023 9:45 am

The peak of summer brings a number of dangers as the mercury soars and more people spend time outside. Here is a look at some of the leading weather headlines over the last week detailing a few of the dangers of the summer season.

Police Dogs Die as Temperatures Climb

Several police dogs died in Indiana on Thursday when the air conditioning in the truck they were being transported in failed. The dogs were being taken to a K-9 training facility in Michigan City, Indiana after arriving at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

According to the Lake Station Police Department, the truck was caught up in a two-hour delay due to excessive traffic. A failure in the truck’s air conditioning system caused the temperature to rise quickly in the cargo area. The National Weather Service (NWS) said that temperatures in Chicago that day hit 92 degrees.

The driver of the truck was not aware that the air conditioning in the cargo area was not working. The dogs subsequently went into heat-related distress. He heard the dogs barking and stopped at a fuel station in Lake Station, Indiana. Both the police department and the fire department from Lake Station responded to the 911 calls, trying to help the sick canines.

Georgia Resident Dies as a Result of a Brain-Eating Amoeba

The Georgia Department of Public Health confirmed that a resident has passed away after being infected by a rare brain-eating amoeba. The individual was infected from Naegleria fowleri, likely after swimming in a freshwater pond or lake in the state.

Naegleria fowleri is a specific type of amoeba that lives in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds, and hot springs. The amoeba can also live in the soil. You will not find the amoeba in salt water or in swimming pools that have been properly treated.

The agency said that there have only been five other cases of this infection reported in the state since 1962, speaking to the rarity of the risk. While rare, these types of brain-eating amoeba infections are nearly always deadly.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only four of the 154 confirmed cases of these infections survived in the U.S. during the time period of 1962 through 2021.

The news out of Georgia comes just a few weeks after the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health reported that a 2-year-old boy lost his life from a brain-eating amoeba infection that was most likely contracted at a natural hot spring. Florida officials confirmed in February the death of a resident from the amoeba after using a sinus rinse with tap water.

Signs of an amoeba infection include fever, nausea and vomiting, severe headaches, stiff neck, and seizures.

Child Survives Cougar Attack in Washington

Summer is the time of the year in which Americans head outside to enjoy the warmer temperatures. While it is natural to want to spend time connecting with Mother Nature during the summer season, this connection often comes with its own set of risks. An 8-year-old in Washington state got up close and personal with Mother Nature over the weekend after surviving a rare cougar attack.

The child only suffered minor injuries after the Saturday evening attack at Olympic National Park. The child was on a camping trip with their mother at Lake Angeles, located south of Port Angeles and about 100 miles west of Seattle.

The predator stopped attacking the child after the mother began to yell. Park personnel responded quickly to the attack and the child was transported to a hospital for evaluation.

All campers in the area were evacuated as a safety precaution. In addition, park officials closed both the Lake Angeles and Heather Park areas temporarily. This includes the Lake Angeles Trail, the Switchback Trail, the Heather Park Trail, and the Klahhane Ridge Trail.

Officials said that they are attempting to locate the cougar. The animal will be euthanized if they catch it.

According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, there are 1,900 to 2,100 adult cougars living in the state. However, the animals rarely attack humans. A great number of these animals are located in Olympic National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) warns visitors to stay alert of their surroundings, avoid hiking alone, and to be loud if they encounter a cougar in the wild.

Woman Found Dead in Montana After Apparent Bear Attack

It was a bear that reportedly killed a woman in Montana last week. The incident happened in the Buttermilk area of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, located in the southeastern corner of Montana and adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. The body was discovered on the Buttermilk Trail.

The wounds were indicative of an attack from a grizzly bear. The population of this bear has increased in recent years across the country, however, the animals rarely interact with humans. Most bear attacks happen when the animal is surprised or if they are with their cubs.

There have been only eight fatal bear encounters reported at Yellowstone since it opened in 1872. Park goers can protect themselves by carrying bear spray and traveling in groups.

Highway Buckles as a Result of Extreme Heat

The extreme heat as of late has been more than just an uncomfortable nuisance. The skyrocketing temperatures have also caused several roadways to buckle, including a major highway in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) said that a portion of Interstate 94 in Moorhead buckled last week due to the heat.

Roads tend to buckle when they do not have enough room to contract or expand. Incidents are more common on older roadways. It is important to keep in mind that the surface of a road is typically much hotter than the air temperature.

This part of Minnesota had been under excessive heat warnings last week. Moorhead reached a high of 98 degrees on the day that the highway buckled and collapsed.

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