Posted on 01/16/2007 7:36:59 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A Sacramento area radio station Tuesday fired 10 employees -- including its three morning disc jockeys -- after a mother of three died Friday following an on-air water-drinking contest at the station's studios.
The hosts of KDND FM's "Morning Rave" program were fired a day after the station announced it was suspending the show and investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 28-year-old Jennifer Lea Strange.
Strange was one of about 18 contestants who tried to win a Nintendo Wii gaming console by seeing how much water they could drink without going to the bathroom.
Strange was hoping to win the console for her children. But after ingesting nearly two gallons of water she appeared ill at the studio and was found dead hours later in her home.
Authorities say early autopsy findings indicate she died of water intoxication.
"they had no idea drinking water could kill you, they had no reason to believe that drinking a bunch of water would do anything but make someone have to go to the bathroom"
Wrong... look up the long history at universities having greek pledges die from exactly this thing as a hazing ritual, not to mention the other area of use asa torture method. If they did not consult a physician or an attorney prior to having this event, they need to be sued into bankruptcy. This information is not a secret and even if the DJs were idiots, the management should have easily researched and nixed the event.
"OK, I've made my point, or at least argued it as best I can. I guess they wouldn't want ME on the jury."
I wouldn't want you any jury either, whether I was the radio station or the family. Making judgments like this based on limited facts and how you think things ought to be is just as dangerous as liberal judges searching for the penumbras and emanations of the Constitution.
>>>I have explained that I would only find culpability if the station KNEW of the risks.<<<
Apparently, they did: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1768834/posts
It appears it was on the air, about two hours into the stunt.
A lot more information over there. I couldn't bring myself to listen to the audio.
> Water intoxication actually occurs well before you can overfill the system as you suggest...
WOW. I didn't know that. Less than half-a-gallon: that's like four pint glasses!
Thanks for the insight -- I learn something new every day from the Free Republic.
> OK, I've made my point, or at least argued it as best I can. I guess they wouldn't want ME on the jury.
I think you have raised some excellent points. Maybe they wouldn't want you on the Jury, but the Defense might well have an opening...
Cheers, mate
*DieHard*
That is why you are supposed to drink small amounts of water throughout the day. Chugging your daily ration of water all at once can obviously be fatal.
> That is why you are supposed to drink small amounts of water throughout the day. Chugging your daily ration of water all at once can obviously be fatal.
Crikey, I guess that taken at face value, this advice of slow sips makes perfect sense: and for the reasons you have given.
Coupled with conventional wisdom as to what to do with someone you find dying of thirst in the desert: definitely *don't* give them too much water, rehydrate slowly. Now it makes sense: sweat out the electrolytes, disempower the blood vessels, reduce their capacity to deal with water... makes perfect sense now.
I have only ever been aware of the "water torture" reasoning before now. So, once again, I acknowledge that I learn something new from FR every day -- thanks!
*DieHard*
You're starting with the false premise that lawsuits, lawyers, judges and juries are interested in truth or negligence or blame or justice or anything of the sort. Merely threatening a lawsuit is many times often enough for a settlement out of court. What do you suppose is going to happen here, then?
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