People are much more likely to die from heat than from any other
natural phenomena.
Here in the Sonoran Desert, the heat
is upon us. We desert dwellers are forced to understand the dangers lurking in
those high thermometer readings. We know they can very quickly lead to death.
Unfortunately, many visitors to our valley don’t seem to
understand. Just two weeks ago, a tourist died on one of our city trails, a
young woman who tried scaling Camelback Mountain without water. In July! Earlier, when paramedics
had to rescue dehydrated hikers from our parks, a dozen firefighters were
themselves overcome by the heat. In response, some of our trails have been
closed to the public. Others are only open early in the morning and in the
evening.
It’s interesting, I think, that so
many people fear hurricanes and tornados and floods and earthquakes when the
natural event most likely to kill them is heat.
I know first-hand the horrors of heat
sickness. The symptoms can arrive frighteningly fast. Dizziness, confusion,
headache, nausea, signs that can quickly lead to unconsciousness and death. All
but one of my bouts of heat illness were brought on by officiating and my own
stupidity. I was an amateur sports official for 40 years, where I called
football, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, and basketball games. I was almost
always the only woman on the field, a fact that was rarely far from my mind.
My first attack of heat sickness occurred when I umpired a baseball game
in extreme heat.
As you can imagine, I was sometimes
made to feel I didn’t belong in the officiating ranks, and I was keenly aware
that any show of weakness would lay me open to negative comments from my peers,
coaches, and fans. So, the first time I got heat sickness, I struggled through
it. It was a baseball game and I was clad in the necessary armor required for
working behind the plate: chest protector, shin guards, wool cap, polyester
shirt and slacks, steel-toed shoes. The sun was relentless. After the game, I
went home and balanced myself under a cold shower for what seemed like hours. I
drank Gatorade and copious amounts of water. I felt lousy for a day or two,
then returned to the field.
One of the problems associated with
heat illness is that once you get it your internal thermometer is messed up and
you start succumbing to it more easily. I’m a slow learner sometimes, so it
took me a while to finally take a stand. One day, in a sub-varsity football
game, I called time and went to the trainer. He took one look at me and dragged
me into the locker room where he filled me with fluids and applied wet, icy
towels to my head and neck. I was rather surprised when my crew mates greeted
me at halftime and promptly told me to go home and get well. No derision. No
smirks. I realized then that most outdoor officials in the southwest have
probably suffered similarly at one time or another.
Most of my bouts of heat sickness came while I officiated football
games in Arizona’s scorching Sonoran Desert, where temperatures often exceed
110 degrees.
A few years later, the telltale signs
of heat sickness attacked in the middle of a varsity football game, and you’d
be proud of me. I signaled time out, struggled off the field, and said I was
sick. Later, when I opened my eyes in the school’s nursing office, I found
myself surround by four paramedics. They were so attentive and cute. I briefly
considered that they might be male strippers with their prominent muscles and
appealing uniforms, but that was just my heat-addled brain.
What finally made me understand the
true dangers of heat illness was the time I got lost in the desert. I did all
the wrong things. I went rock collecting alone. I walked away from my stranded
vehicle. I had two dogs with me who drank all my water. When I saw that last
half inch of liquid in my bottle and felt the sun beating down, I tied my dogs
under a bush and hoped the coyotes would stay away. I built cairns as I tried
to find my way back to civilization, so I might locate my sweet pups if I
survived. While the whole ordeal only lasted half-a-day and I was safely
reunited with my dogs, the episode is etched into my brain. As is the fact that
today I might be nothing more than a pile of bleached bones in the vast Sonoran
Desert.
While lost in the desert, I suffered from heat sickness, and today I
consider myself lucky to be alive.
It’s understandable then that I never
go anywhere without water. That bottle is always in my hand, which here in the
desert is pretty much normal. In fact, those without a mobile water supply are
easily identified as tourists.
The point is, heat can kill you quickly. And when you
consider that our world is heating up rapidly, it’s something we should all
take into account whenever we leave the bliss of air-conditioning.
Here is a peek at Anne’s latest release.Bud Richardville is inducted into the Army as the United States prepares for the invasion of Europe in 1943. A chance comment has Bud assigned to the Graves Registration Service where his unit is tasked with locating, identifying, and burying the dead. Bud ships out, leaving behind his new wife, Lorraine, a mysterious woman who has stolen his heart but whose secretive nature and shadowy past leave many unanswered questions. When Bud and his men hit the beach at Normandy, they are immediately thrust into the horrors of what working in a graves unit entails. Bud is beaten down by the gruesome demands of his job and losses in his personal life, but then he meets Eva, an optimistic soul who despite the war can see a positive future. Will Eva’s love be enough to save him?
Praise for Your Forgotten Sons
“Although a deftly crafted work of original fiction, “Your Forgotten Sons” by Anne Montgomery is inspired by a true story. An original and inherently interesting read from start to finish, “Your Forgotten Sons” will prove to be an immediate and enduringly appreciated pick.” Midwest Book Review
“This was a quick, riveting read that really challenged me to think differently about our servicemen and women, especially those who take on the jobs that don’t get heroically depicted in the media or news…I really highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a different take on American history. I left it with a newfound appreciation for the unsung heroes.” Bekah C NetGalley
“This is the truth. It’s gritty and painful and bittersweet – and true. When you think you’ve read every perspective of WWII, along comes Bud to break your heart.” Bridgett Siter Former Military Reporter
“Anne Montgomery writes a strong story and I was hooked from the first page. It had a great concept and I enjoyed that this was inspired by a true story…It was written perfectly and I was invested in the story. Anne Montgomery has a great writing style and left me wanting to read more.” – Kathryn McLeer NetGalley
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