Jenni Parks is coping with every mother’s nightmare — the sudden death of a child, her teenage son, Jake — and hoping there’s a way to help other families avoid a similar tragedy.
Jake, a 17-year-old San Marcos High School senior who was to graduate last week, passed away on May 14, succumbing to a heat-related illness that struck him while hiking in the mountains above Santa Barbara.
Jake “was just the kindest, sweetest kid,” Parks told Noozhawk. “He really liked for people to be happy.”
Jake and three friends headed out from Stevens Park midmorning along the Jesusita Trail, which runs along a creek and through a riparian area before angling steeply uphill to Inspiration Point.
“I sent him along with snacks and water,” Parks recalled. “He had plenty of water with him.”
Inspiration Point is a popular front-country destination, but it’s a much longer trek to the scenic overlook via the Jesusita Trail than from the approach on the Tunnel Trail on the east side.
Moreover, the upper reaches of the Jesusita Trail include numerous switchbacks in full sun as the pathway passes through the dry chaparral, and the route can be challenging for the uninitiated.
Jake wasn’t really a hiker, his mother said, and was inexperienced when it came to such outdoors activities.
“He really liked video games,” she said, “and was one of those geeky kinds of kids.”
But Jake and his friends thought it would be a fun adventure, so they hit the trail.
As the hike progressed, Jake became overheated and started feeling ill, but he pressed on toward Inspiration Point.
“Jake was the kind of kid who wouldn’t want to hold his friends back,” Parks said. “He probably figured he’d get to the top, and it would be downhill all the way back.”
But as Jake’s condition worsened, one of his companions called his mother, who told him to call 9-1-1. That initiated an emergency response including firefighters, paramedics and Search & Rescue team members.
Two of Jake’s friends headed back to the car to move it to the closer Tunnel Road trailhead, while the third stayed with him.
Unfortunately, there is no quick way to access a patient in trouble on the trail. First responders can use off-road vehicles to get part of the way up, but eventually have to hike, and sometimes a helicopter with a hoist is called in to assist for trail rescues.
A copter did respond to the incident, but Jake — who was undergoing CPR — went to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital via an American Medical Response ambulance.
Parks said Jake’s temperature at the hospital was 106 degrees, and estimates were that it may have been as high as 110 degrees on the trail.
Despite the efforts of the medical staff, Jake passed away at the hospital.
The experience, Parks said, was a “nightmare” for her, her husband, Todd, Jake’s twin sister, Julia, older brother, Jesse, as well as other family and friends.
“My whole thing is I don’t want anyone else to go through this,” Parks said. “Jake didn’t know (about heat illness). I didn’t know.”
Parks would like to see signs placed at local front-country trailheads warning about the dangers of heat-related illnesses — how to prevent them, what the symptoms are, and what to do when they occur.
“People don’t know,” she added. “It’s just inexperience.”
There already are signs and postings at the Jesusita Trailhead that warn about fire dangers and explain the etiquette for sharing the trail between hikers, cyclists and equestrians. But there’s nothing that deals with heat illnesses.
It’s too late for Jake, but Parks is hopeful someone will recognize the need and help get some informational signs installed.
“If anybody knows anybody to get some signs put up on the trail, I would appreciate the tips.”
Meanwhile, a celebration of life for Jake is planned for June 25 outside the McDermott-Crockett Mortuary, where Parks has worked for many years.
“I miss him so much,” Parks said. “He was the greatest kid. He really was.”
What to Know About Heat-Related Illnesses
Authorities recommend not hiking or doing other heavy exercise when it’s hot, and to make sure to stay well-hydrated.
Heading out onto the trail without an adequate water supply is a bad idea.
Hikers also should know their capabilities, and not push on if they are feeling ill effects from the heat.
Click here for guidance about hiking safety from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
There are varying levels of heat illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Heat Cramps:
Symptoms: Heavy sweating during intense exercise; muscle pain or spasms.
What to do: Stop physical activity and move to a cool place; drink water or a sports drink; wait for cramps to go away before you do more physical activity; get medical help right away if cramps last more than an hour, if you’re on a low-sodium diet, or if you have heart problems.
Heat Exhaustion:
Symptoms: Heavy sweating; cold, pale and clammy skin; fast, weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; headache; fainting.
What to do: Move to a cool place; loosen your clothes; put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath; sip water; get medical help right away if you are vomiting, your symptoms get worse, or your symptoms last more than an hour.
Heat Stroke:
Symptoms: High body temperature (103 degrees or higher); hot, red, dry or damp skin; fast, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; losing consciousness.
What to do: Call 9-1-1 right away — heat stroke is a medical emergency. Move the person to a cooler place; help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath; do not give the person anything to drink.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
