An 82-year-old Arizona woman suffered severe burns, described by her daughter as reaching “the muscle and the bone,” after she fell asleep in a metal chair while tanning by a community pool on June 11.
Betty Lou Summer was at the Johnson Ranch community pool in San Tan Valley when the incident occurred. Bystanders found her unconscious, suffering from heat stroke and severe burns, according to her daughter, Michelle Gabbert.
Summer's burns covered approximately 30% of her body. The injuries were sustained not only from the sun but also from the metal chair. "Her pinky tip, which was touching the metal chair, was completely, the whole tip of it was gone. Anywhere that touched the metal on the chair completely just fried," Gabbert told ABC 15.
Paramedics transported Summer to the Valleywise Burn Center, where she was diagnosed with liver and kidney damage and severe shock. She was placed on a ventilator and dialysis and has undergone multiple surgeries to remove dead skin.
Gabbert, a physician, noted that her mother's age contributed to the severity of the injuries and the difficulty of her recovery. Older individuals, she explained, have thinner skin, less subcutaneous fat, slower healing capabilities, and challenges regulating body temperature.
Summer is expected to remain in the hospital's burn unit for at least another month and will require multiple skin grafts once her tissue is sufficiently healed. Gabbert is sharing her mother's story to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive sun exposure and urged the public to take precautions such as wearing sunscreen, protective clothing, and staying hydrated.
"The heat is no joke," Gabbert stated.