A 60-year-old woman from New Hampshire was seriously injured while walking in a thermal area at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The woman broke through a thin crust over scalding water and suffered second and third-degree burns to her lower leg. Her husband and dog were not injured. The couple went to a park medical center and the woman was later transported to a hospital in Idaho for further treatment. This incident is the first known thermal injury in Yellowstone in 2024 and is currently under investigation by the National Park Service.
The National Park Service reminded visitors to stay on boardwalks and trails in hydrothermal areas and exercise extreme caution as the ground is fragile and there is scalding water just below the surface. Pets are prohibited in these areas. In July, a hydrothermal explosion occurred at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone, spewing steam, boiling water, mud, and rocks into the air. Although no one was injured, the explosion caused damage to a boardwalk and thermal pools, resulting in the closure of Biscuit Basin for assessment by the park service.
The park service urged visitors to be cautious around hydrothermal areas and to follow safety guidelines to prevent injuries. A trending news reporter for USA TODAY, Saman Shafiq, can be reached at sshafiq@gannett.com and followed on social media platforms.
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