Extreme Heat Hospitalizes Runners in Western US Heatwave

As of August 24, 2025, a severe heatwave has been sweeping across the western United States, with temperatures reaching dangerously high levels. According to the article, around 1.2 million people were under extreme heat risk on Saturday, August 23, 2025, with the largest affected area being around Tucson, Arizona, where temperatures were forecast to reach between 102 and 107 degrees Fahrenheit (39 to 42 degrees Celsius).

The heatwave has also impacted the Pacific Northwest, with Portland, Oregon reporting a record high for August 22, 2025. The preliminary data shows the city reached a high of 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius), breaking the previous record of 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.7 degrees Celsius) set in 1942. The extreme heat has taken a toll on the region, with emergency services seeing a spike in calls and visits, including six from participants in the annual Hood to Coast relay race.

One of the runners, David Loftus, a writer and amateur actor from Portland, collapsed during his leg of the race and had to be hospitalized. Loftus said he had hydrated and doused himself with water before the race, but it was not enough to prevent him from losing consciousness. He was held for observation overnight at a hospital but has since recovered.

The heatwave is expected to continue throughout the weekend, with the Portland metro area facing the highest heat risk of 2025. Authorities have warned residents to take precautions and stay hydrated to avoid heat-related illnesses.