The Ruckus Rant: Summer Heat That Can Kill

The Ruckus Rant for July 2016

Hello and welcome to the hot summer in Las Vegas. Since Nevada is a newer medical marijuana state, I want to send this rant out to those who have moved to Las Vegas to be a part of the BOOM!!

Las Vegas gets really insanely hot during the summer. The high temps can be quite brutal and DEADLY.  Six years ago this month, my very good friend and singer/guitarist Todd Sampson was doing a show with his band M.I.A. And, the heat got to him. He started sweating buckets, his skin was flush, he couldn’t talk right, and he was burning up. He had almost finished the show when he collapsed. We tried putting ice in his armpits and ice water over his head, we gave him a half hour or so and he started feeling better. I drove him home. He was ok for about half an hour so I went to the store to get him something to replenish his fluids. By the time I got back he was convulsing. We picked him up and raced him to the hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away on the drive. Pulling back up to his house and telling his son his father wouldn’t be coming home is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

I bring this up because a lot of you are new to Las Vegas and its’ heat.

I didn’t know what to do. I had never done research on what I should do. Had I called an ambulance from the club, he may still be here today.

We are a very welcoming people and we LOVE that you have come here to be a part of this growing community. But we also want you to know the dangers and what to do if you are put in a situation like I was.

Please take a few minutes and check out a couple of websites so that you are informed and have the ability to properly help someone in need.

http://www.m.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/heat-stroke-symptoms-and-treatment

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-stroke/basics/symptoms/con-20032814

We need you around to advocate, talk about, grow, buy, sell, test, concentrate and Consume Cannabis, so be careful out there!!

By Rob Ruckus