Heat suspect in weekend Oregon deaths
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 10:37 AM PDT
PORTLAND (AP) — Three seemingly healthy men died while participating in organized athletic events during a weekend in which the temperature reached triple digits in much of Oregon.
Slieght Manivong, 34, was running a 10K charity race when he collapsed. Patrick Findlay, 45, died after seeking help during the swimming portion of a triathlon. James Shelton, 59, was participating in a Salem Bike Club ride when he lost his life. Between 1979 and 2003, excessive heat exposure caused more than 8,000 deaths in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though a suspect, it’s too soon to say if the heat caused any of the deaths. But health officials say people need to pay close attention to how they feel when exerting themselves in hot weather — and hydration is critical.
The human body holds about six liters of fluid, and you can lose one by simply standing in 80-degree heat, said Dr. Kerry Kuehl, associate professor of medicine and co-director of Oregon Health and Science University’s Human Performance Laboratory.
