Woman Dies From Water Intoxication

[knapplc]

It's amazing what people will do for their kids. And who knew this would be deadly?

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A radio station fired three morning disc jockeys and seven other employees Tuesday after a woman died from drinking nearly two gallons of water in a contest.

The hosts of KDND-FM's "Morning Rave" were fired a day after the station announced it was suspending the show and investigating the death of 28-year-old Jennifer Lea Strange.

She died Friday after drinking the water in an attempt to win a Nintendo Wii, competing to see who could drink the most water without going to the bathroom.

John Geary, vice president and general manager of KDND's parent company, Entercom/Sacramento, announced that 10 employees were fired.

Strange died of water intoxication, according to a preliminary autopsy. Drinking large quantities of water rapidly can cause brain swelling and lead to seizures, coma and death.

The county sheriff's office said it was not investigating.

I'd say the DJ's should have done their homework, but something as obscure as water intoxication? That's a tough thing to lose your job over.

Too bad about this woman's kids, too.

[moonhead]

surely this goes beyond the djs? wouldn't they have to have insurance and the like on a competition like this? i mean they can't have free license to do whatever they want, they're only djs. this had to be approved by someone.

[Metroid]

Being this is right down the road from me its been all over the news. I had no idea there was such a thing as water intoxication.

I really feel bad for her family.

[knapplc]

surely this goes beyond the djs? wouldn't they have to have insurance and the like on a competition like this? i mean they can't have free license to do whatever they want, they're only djs. this had to be approved by someone.

I'm sure you're right. Who knows if other people will get fired, but that may not happen until after legal action occurs (if it occurs).

It sucks for them, too. Yeah it was a juvenile contest, but that's what morning radio is all about anymore. Someone has to die and someone has to get fired for some "zaniness." Ugh.

[GreatestShowOnEarth]

wow. Who knew?

[petedog9]

I am in Sacramento and this has been all over the news locally. 10 people total have been fired including teh DJs, promotions director, interns, and others. A nurse even called in telling them what could happen and their response was "they signed a waiver." They even talked about the Chico State student right up the road who died from a hazing incident involving water just a while back.

Here is a link to the local paper which has the audio excerpts form the contest itself...

http://www.sacbee.com/static/newsroom/kdndslides/

[knapplc]

Here's an excerpt from the article about the Chico State student:

Matthew William Carrington, a 21-year-old California State University, Chico student, died Feb. 2 after he suffered severe water intoxication from hazing rituals carried out by a local fraternity, Chi Tau.

As one of two pledges made to consume large amounts of water, Carrington, a sophomore business student, also had to participate in exercise rudiments as part of the initiation process.

According to the autopsy, the combination of too much water and intense exercise caused the condition hyponatremia -- water intoxication -- in which an increase in Carrington's blood plasma forced his salt content to dilute. Typically the condition causes the body and mind to experience similar symptoms associated with dehydration. This combined with Carrington's heavy perspiration eventually led to his death.

Weird, weird way to die.

[onnestabe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication

A person with two healthy kidneys can excrete about 900ml per hour (0.24 gal). Consuming as little as 1.8 litres of water (0.48 gal) in a single sitting may prove fatal for a person adhering to a low-sodium diet, or 3 litres (0.79 gallons) for a person on a normal diet.

I don't know about the legal ramifications to the DJs, but I don't see how you can reasonably expect the radio station to know about the dangers of drinking too much water and not hold the victim to the same standard. No one forced her to participate in the contest.

[Heimholder]

Yeah someone didn't do their research for this stunt - water intoxication isn't really all that obscure. I still remember seeing in the news several years ago where a girl died from drinking too much water as a form of therapy her parents were attempting. Yeah here's the link:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/05/07/ctv.death.by.water/

The article also cites a related frat hazing incidents, & I'm sure there are plenty of others. Sad but very irresponsible for all those involved.

[deerayfan072]

The DJ's anyone who approved it and is in charge of the DJ's, the Radio Station itself, the Corporation could all be held liable and i am sure all will be sued. You go for the deepest pockets you can. All respondeat superior has to come in someplace.


As far as water intoxication, from what i hear your blood cells get swollen and thats what happened to this lady. Here cells were swollen in here head, you develop a headache, vomit and eventually pass out and die.