A few weeks ago, we wrote in this space about the severe storms that were sweeping through the area, causing property damage and power outages and making some residents miserable. Our proposed consolation, at least in regard to electricity loss, was that it’s not usually a deadly problem. But this week brought a tragic reminder that weather, even on sunny days, can kill.
Beacon resident Theordore Pressman is being charged with two counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment, with additional charges possibly pending, for the death of his disabled father, 85-year-old Joseph Pressman, on Monday, July 7 at the Atrium Deli and Café in Peekskill. According to police, Pressman left his father and 75-year-old mother, both of whom suffer from dementia, inside a four-door black Suzuki for three hours while he went to his job across the street. When he returned at 3:30 p.m., he found his father dead in the passenger seat and his mother, Joyce, outside the vehicle. Autopsy results were still pending as of press time, but authorities have said that the elder Pressman’s death was heat-related.
Monday was a hot and humid day, with temperatures in the mid-80s, and to make matters worse, Theodore Pressman left his parents in the car without keys to roll down the electric windows. Although it’s easy to call for vengeance, all accounts indicate that this was simply a tragic accident, from the neighbors of the family who say the son was caring and attentive, to the deli owner who pointed out that he thought the younger Pressman was doing the best he could to take care of his parents. Although it’s fair to wonder how a 48-year-old man could leave his elderly and infirm parents in a hot car with no way to cool themselves, this certainly feels like a senseless tragedy, and it makes recognizing the dangers of heat-related illnesses all the more important.
In the summertime, when outside temperatures are around 85 degrees, the inside of a car with the windows cracked can reach 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and can reach up to 120 degrees with prolonged exposure. And studies show that the dangers presented by extreme heat intensify with age, meaning that a 20-year-old’s discomfort could be a 50-year-old’s heat exhaustion or stroke. As with most disorders, the elderly, infants and obese are most at risk from heat dangers, but even a perfectly healthy person can suffer heat stroke as temperatures rise.
While the cures are common sense – getting out of the sun, loosening clothing, drinking water and running fans and air-conditioning – recognizing the signs of heat disorders can be difficult. And with the tragic death of Joseph Pressman this week, there’s no better time be wary of the dangers of summer heat, and to protect yourself accordingly. For more information, see http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/1243.pdf, and use caution this summer.