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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 31, 2005 Boy Scouts at jamboree suffer heat — and death By ANITA BURKE Mail Tribune A contingent of Boy Scouts from Oregon and Northern California has weathered sweltering Virginia heat and the electrocution deaths of neighboring campers from Alaska to finally get down to activities at the National Scout Jamboree. "It’s been a pretty interesting couple of days," said Brendan Prendergast, a 14-year-old Scout from Medford. "Those accidents really shook people that first day, then we’ve had such extreme weather." The tent-raising accident Monday that killed four Scout leaders from Alaska and injured three other adults happened roughly 100 yards from the campsite of the 80 Scouts from the Crater Lake Council, which covers a broad swath of Southern and Central Oregon and Northern California, said local leader Ken Muller, of Klamath Falls. "It was behind a tent so we didn’t see anything," Muller said. Some local Scouts reported hearing screams. Muller said leaders worked hard to keep kids informed about the accident, then had to field calls from worried parents. Advertisement "It’s been hard not to be able to check in and ask him how he’s doing like I could if he were here," said Brendan’s mom, Tricia who had spoken to him by cell phone. "It’s hard as a mom when you realize that your 14-year-old has been that close to a death." Brendan said Boy Scout officials made sure Scouts had plenty of people to talk to about everything from the accident to homesickness. They also worked to keep kids cool and hydrated as temperatures at Ft. A.P. Hill, an Army base where Jamboree has been held since 1981, soared above 90 degrees and oppressive humidity pushed the heat index (a measure of how hot it feels) toward 120. Muller said one boy from Grants Pass suffered heat stress Tuesday, but after brief intravenous therapy to rehydrate and restore his electrolyte balance, he was back in action. No local Scouts were among the 300 stricken with heat-related complications Wednesday while waiting for a visit by President Bush, who ultimately canceled his visit because of predicted thunderstorms and strong winds. Rain pushed temperatures down Thursday and Friday so Scouts could enjoy the myriad of Jamboree activities. Prendergast had tried his hand at geocaching, a treasure hunt done with the help of global-positioning systems; a Navy flight simulator; and an Army obstacle course. And still had his eye on a mining simulation. Muller said the kids had rappelled, played wheelchair basketball to get a glimpse of life with a disability and gone scuba diving. "It’s a neat experience for me and my friends," Brendan Prendergast said. Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485, or e-mail Boy Scouts at jamboree suffer heat � and death ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s