Baby Succumbs To Heatstroke, As Heat Wave Ebbs

A one-year-old baby hospitalized last week for heatstroke died over Shabbos, marking the second fatality in a heat wave which has gripped the country for over a week.

The one-year-old and her father were taken to the Ziv Medical Center in Tzfas last Monday, suffering from heatstroke and dehydration after the family had been hiking in the northern Hula Valley.

The father was released from the hospital the next day.

Dr. Yuri Wiener, head of the children’s ICU at Ziv, said that the baby underwent continuous resuscitation efforts, and received fluids as well as heart and blood pressure support. She was sedated and put on a ventilator, with support for all vital systems.

The tragedy was not due to negligence, said the baby’s mother; they had been careful to take breaks and drink liquids during the hike.

Last week, an 18-year-old IDF soldier, Dan Sela, died from heatstroke after collapsing during an army educational tour of Yerushalayim’s Old City.

In addition, an eight-year-old girl was admitted to Ziv on Shabbos due to symptoms of heatstroke.

Meteorologists were forecasting a return to more normal temperatures on Monday.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the August 10th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.