82-year-old woman suffers third-degree burns after falling asleep at pool

SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — An Arizona woman is fighting for her life after a quick nap while tanning turned into a life-threatening emergency.

Betty Lou Summer was at the Johnson Ranch community pool on June 11. Her family said she was by the pool for about an hour, tanning on a metal chair, when she fell asleep.

Other people at the pool reportedly found Summer unconscious. She was suffering from heat stroke and had third-degree burns across her body.

“The whole front of her body, all the way down to basically the muscle and the bone, was burned. And it’s significant,” her daughter, Michelle Gabbert, said.

Paramedics took Summer to Valleywise Burn Center, where she was also diagnosed with severe shock and damage to her liver and kidneys.

According to Gabbert, her mother has needed several surgeries and was placed on a ventilator and put on dialysis.

“When I saw her and saw the condition that she was in, I really didn’t think she was going to pull through because I’ve seen time and time again how this ends up,” Gabbert said.

Summer is expected to be in the hospital for at least another month.

Gabbert said the family is sharing their mother’s story as a warning about Arizona’s summer heat.

“I would have never in a million years imagined one of my family members having to go through this,” she said.

Valleywise Burn Center said older adults and children are at greater risk of significant burns during Arizona’s heat.

The burn center said people should wear skin protection, limit time outdoors, carry a towel, blanket or other barrier, and keep a close eye on loved ones.

“The heat is no joke,” Gabbert added.