By admin 
SAN TAN VALLEY, AZ (AZFamily) — An 82-year-old San Tan Valley woman is fighting for her life after a quick nap while tanning turned into a life-threatening emergency.
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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.
“She went to the pool, sat in a chair and fell asleep. The chair had some metal on it,” her daughter, Michelle Gabbert, said.
Other people at the pool found Summer unconscious. She was suffering from heat stroke and had third-degree burns across her body.
Treated at burn center
“The whole front of her body, all the way down to basically the muscle and the bone, is burned. And it’s significant,” Gabbert said.
Paramedics took Summer to Valleywise Burn Center, where she was also diagnosed with severe shock, liver damage and kidney damage.
Gabbert said her mother has needed several surgeries and was put on a ventilator and 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.
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Summer is expected to be in the hospital for at least another month.
Family shares warning
Gabbert said her mother is still fighting, with a long recovery ahead.
She said the family is sharing Summer’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,” Gabbert said.
Valleywise Burn Center said older adults and children are more at risk of significant burns during Arizona’s heat each year.
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 said.
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