Woman drinks so much water she dies

CNN/AP ^ | 01-13-07

[mfnorman]

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- A woman who competed in a radio station's contest to see how much water she could drink without going to the bathroom died of water intoxication, the coroner's office said Saturday.

Jennifer Strange, 28, was found dead Friday in her suburban Rancho Cordova home hours after taking part in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest in which KDND 107.9 promised a Nintendo Wii video game system for the winner.

"She said to one of our supervisors that she was on her way home and her head was hurting her real bad," said Laura Rios, one of Strange's co-workers at Radiological Associates of Sacramento. "She was crying, and that was the last that anyone had heard from her."

It was not immediately known how much water Strange consumed.

[Scotswife]

"This woman obviously didn't know that drinking too much water could kill her. Neither did many who have posted here. That does not make her an idiot. It means she was likely pretty normal, since the average person doesn't know that either."

She was someone trying her best to do something nice for her kids.
She probably couldn't afford the gaming system - and so she gave it her all in this contest.

By the time she realized something was wrong, no one was around to help her.

[Thermalseeker]

My guess is all the contestants had to sign some sort of contract indicating the radio station would not beheld liable in case of accident/injury.

That would be a general liability waiver. I have some working familiarity with these. For a few years I ran a glider tow operation from my airstrip. One of the biggest reasons I shut down was because of liability exposure and the threat of being sued by an insurance company of one of the participants for events that were completely beyond my control, other than they occured on my property.

Waivers don't always hold up. You cannot sign away your right to bring suit. That precedent has already been set in Federal court. You can, however, agree to waive any judgement you might receive from legal action you bring against me and you can also agree to pay my attorney fees......that has been proven to stop this crap in it's tracks.....usually before it ever makes it to the first hearing.

[Paved Paradise]

Thanks for the quick biology lesson. I remember a man who died from water intoxication in the early 80's. He had cancer and had read that drinking large amounts of water could eradicate the cancer.

Moderation in all things is a good idea. I think the radio station has some liability in this case and I feel sorry for that poor woman that obviously didn't know too much water can kill you.

[Paved Paradise]

Glad nothing terrible happened to you. Very few people know that too much water can kill.

[Paved Paradise]

You said it. I posted earlier about a case in the early 80's of a man dying from water intoxication; he read that drinking water could eliminate cancer and he literally drank himself to death. Over the years, in talking to people, I would say that with rare exception did anyone I've told that story to ever hear of water intoxication. I happen to enjoy science and read quite a bit but most people don't. I hope the radio station does something for her children because I agree that they should have looked into the consequences of asking people to drink water. However, they probably had people sign releases.

[Paved Paradise]

I have a background in law - was a paralegal. The one thing I learned (if I learned much at all) is that all contracts can be broken. One of my former bosses, who was a pretty good litigator, once told me that there is no contract that a good lawyer couldn't get you out of.....

[aruanan]

I find it difficult to believe that drinking water that is "too pure" is in any way dangerous. I understand that one can drink a toxic amount, of water, but the level of purity can't hurt you.

The poison is in the dose. However, if you drank as much water you needed each day in the form of Milli-Q purified water, you'd probably die. The benefit of water is not just the H2O but the electolytes in it.

[aruanan]

Same thing goes for air that is too pure. Don't breathe air when you are outside of the city...it'll kill you, it will.

Even the purest of air is still a mixture of gases. Even though it's about 78% nitrogen, breathing only nitrogen will kill you. Even though you need only about 20% oxygen, breathing pure oxygen for too long can be harmful.

[Thermalseeker]

One of my former bosses, who was a pretty good litigator, once told me that there is no contract that a good lawyer couldn't get you out of.....

True, but what it really boils down to is twelve people in a closed room....never, ever underestimate the havoc that can be brought by twelve people in a closed room....

[Paved Paradise]

Well, I have more faith in the collective wisdom of those 12 people than I do in a lot of judges, attorneys, and other know-it-alls. I'm often amazed at how smart juries are, together, that is. I have served on three myself. However, I also have seen some real dummies - kinda scary.

[Thermalseeker]

I have served on three myself. However, I also have seen some real dummies - kinda scary.

Yep. I've served on three myself, including one stint on the Grand Jury. I was elected foreman on one jury. It was like trying to herd cats into a bathtub. Personally, I have been utterly amazed at the ignorance of my fellow citizens.

[Running On Empty]

Marking