2 Dead, Other’s Hospitalized at Sweat Lodge in Sedona Arizona
October 9, 2009 by Homeland Security NTARC News
Filed under Incident Reports
Fox News is reporting two people have died and several other sare being hospitalized after becoming mysteriously ill in a sauna-like sweat lodge at an Sedona Arizona resort.
From Fox News
Three people had heart attacks and about 21 in all were treated for injuries after being sickened Thursday night at the Angel Valley Sweat Lodge in Sedona. Two died.
The resort is next to GOP Sen. John McCain’s ranch, according to MyFOXPhoenix.
Emergency crews responded about 5 p.m. Thursday to a hazardous materials situation at the sauna, the station said. Three patients were reportedly suffering cardiac arrest when ambulances and a helicopter arrived.
About 50 people were in a “sweatbox” type of structure when they were overcome at the resort, which provides Native American-style spiritual retreats, Yavapai County sheriff’s spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn said Friday.
via Source.
This is odd. That place is eerie, or at least it was to me.
Labyrinths laid out in a circular pattern. Very new age. I went there with a friend last summer.
They subscribe to the energy theory, It’s all about energy. (Definately new age stuff.)
Authorities haven’t determined the cause of the deaths and illnesses; tests for carbon monoxide and other contaminants were negative. Dwight D’Evelyn, Yavapai County sheriff’s spokesman, said authorities were checking into whether any of the attendees had preexisting medical conditions and the possibility that some of them might have been fasting.
1.
Chante Pierce says:
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10/9/2009 at 3:02 pm
The news about the illness and deaths at the “Native-Style” Sweat lodge is shocking!(For many reasons.)
I am a Native American woman and I have attended hundreds of lodges, and I have conducted them for many years.
There is no excuse for this horrible situation. Unless someone has been carefully trained by our own people they should never run an Inipi. (purification ceremony/Sweat Lodge)
The news says two hours into the Lodge folks began to get ill.
This ceremony does not last that long and is never packed with 50 people!
As the authorities examine this situation they will most likely find that there was some kind of plastic tarp around or in it and/or contaminated stones or firewood. Also that people were not allowed to leave if they were very uncomfortable. AGAIN THIS IS NOT NATIVE WAY!
When a Lodge is conducted in a legitimate,traditional way, there are many safety measures taken. There is an orientation given before hand as to what to expect and any health considerations are shared with the leader.
There are 4 prayer rounds and the flap/door is OPENED between each one! This lets fresh air in and allows the leader to really check on the people and evaluate their well being.
This whole situation could only have been brought on by ignorance or neglect!
Please pass some of this information along to anyone who will listen.
This ceremony is a prayer,NOT AN ENDURANCE CHALLENGE ! OR A DEATH CHAMBER!
Inside the Lodge is a place of prayer.We pray for healings and all races and God’s creation.
Prayers are being made for the people who perished and their families.Also for the recovery of the people who became ill.
As Native people we have struggled long and hard to practice our freedom of religion. There is a real good chance that this story will only breed more ignorance and fear and judgement regarding our sacred prayer ceremonies and cultures.
A very sad day for all concerned.
Please post the comments…people need to be informed.
What is this article doing here? This is an indoor air quality issue, and not a terror plot.
btw, as a rule, attending a sweat lodge with various people hosting various micro-organisms is not the smartest.
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