An elderly woman, aged 82, suffered severe burns down to the muscle and bone after falling asleep while sunbathing, as per her daughter. Betty Lou Summer was at the Johnson Ranch community pool in San Tan Valley on June 11 when an hour under the intense Arizona sun turned into a life-threatening situation as she dozed off. Passers-by found her unconscious, battling severe heat stroke and covered in third-degree burns.
Summer’s daughter, Michelle Gabbert, disclosed that the burns extended to the muscle and bone on the front of her body. She was quickly treated with wet towels, moved to shade, and then taken to the Valleywise Burn Center, where doctors identified liver and kidney damage along with severe shock.
The burns, affecting about 30% of her body, were not only due to sun exposure but also from direct contact with a metal chair, according to the Daily Star. Gabbert mentioned that areas of skin touching the metal chair were significantly burnt, including the tip of her pinky finger.
Following multiple operations to remove burnt and dead skin, Summer, who recently retired, was put on a ventilator and dialysis. Gabbert, who was abroad at the time, expressed concern about her mother’s survival, with Summer expected to remain in the hospital’s burns unit for at least a month. She will need several skin grafts once her tissue has healed adequately.
Gabbert, a doctor, highlighted that her mother’s advanced age exacerbated the severity of her injuries and the challenging recovery process. Older individuals have thinner skin, less fat underneath the skin, slower healing rates, and struggle with temperature regulation.
Gabbert shared her mother’s story to emphasize the risks of sun exposure and advised the public to take precautions like using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and staying hydrated when outdoors. She expressed shock at her family’s unexpected ordeal.
To support Summer’s recovery, donations can be made through the GoFundMe page.
