A 12-year-old boy has died two weeks after suffering heatstroke during soccer practice.
Johnny Tolbert was playing with friends at Welcome All Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on the evening of July 14. Temperatures were above 90 degrees.
An hour before sunset, he collapsed into a seizure.
Rushed into hospital, he was diagnosed with acute brain damage. Doctors tried to revive him without success, and he was placed on life support.
Last night he passed away, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Johnny Tolbert (pictured) was playing with friends at Welcome All Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 14 at 7.30pm – when temperatures were above 90 degrees. An hour before sunset, he collapsed into a seizure
Johnny’s devastated family was stood outside Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston on Friday waiting for news.
When the news was first reported last week, Johnny had already been in intensive care for a week.
His aunt Razhonge Landers told WSB-TV doctors believed he had just a day to live.
‘It’s definitely on the brink of being fatal. We’ll know within 24 hours,’ she said.
‘They’re pretty confident that it’s a heatstroke, still what they’re leaning towards, he should have somewhat recovered by now.
‘We’re just praying for healing and total recovery and we’re just leaning on God for that instead of pointing fingers.’
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The family and Welcome All Panthers, the football league which Tolbert had just started playing for, have yet to comment publicly on the news of Johnny’s death.
At the time Johnny’s hospitalization, Welcome All Panthers issued a warning to parents on hydration.
Heatstroke is the most severe heat-related illness.
It drives body temperature above 106 degrees in just minutes.
Symtpoms include hot, red, dry skin, a rapid and strong pulse, dizziness, and falling unconscious.
The condition can mimic the effects of alcohol or drugs, given the sufferer slurred speech.
In most cases, it is preceded by heat exhaustion, which involves heavy sweating, weakness, cold skin, weak pulse, vomiting and fainting.
Once the person’s skin becomes hot to touch, they need to call 911.
Johnny’s family was stood outside Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston last week waiting for news
This is the park where Johnny was playing soccer at 7.30pm last week, amid Atlanta’s scorching heat wave
In an article published on Daily Mail Online last week, ER doctor Janyce Sanford of Alabama University outlined the need-to-know tips for staying safe in the sun.
The most important point is staying hydrated.
Drink two to four cups of water every hour while working or active outside.
Crucially, you should not wait until you are thirsty to drink.
Whenever possible, retreat to an air-conditioned space with shade.
Wear sunscreen.
For adequate protection, dermatologists advise everyone – no matter how easily you burn – to wear at least SPF 30.
A Consumer Reports study recently found you need to wear at least SPF 60, since a number of commercial bottles did not stand up to testing.
Reapply every one or two hours.
And Dr Sanford advises wearing a cap or a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, and loose, lightweight clothing.
It is best to wear bright colors to reflect the UV rays away from your body. Black absorbs the rays.
Sanford also adds: ‘Don’t forget to check on elderly friends and neighbors. The heat is difficult for pets, too, so bring your dogs and cats inside during the worst of the day’s heat.’