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Woman dies from water intoxication during radio contest

Posted : 1/19/2007 5:20:41 PM

[linkhttp://www.ktvu.com/news/10788783/detail.html?subid=22105264&qs=1;bp=t]http://www.ktvu.com/news/10788783/detail.html?subid=22105264&qs=1;bp=t[/link]

This happened a week ago in my neighborhood. It's just awful. I feel so horrible for this family. It's been on the news every single night. For those who don't want to read the link, it's a story about a 28 year old, married, mother of 3 who competed in a radio station contest where she had to drink as much water as she could without having to go to the bathroom. She was the runner-up and then when she went home, she died from water intoxication. They fired 10 employees from the radio station, including the 3 dj's of that morning show. The show has been pulled completely from the station as of right now. The family is now filing a wrongful death suit.

When I first heard of this, I felt bad for the family of course. However, I also felt bad for the dj's, whom I would listen to occassionally, because I assumed that they couldn't have known that death from drinking too much water was a possibility. Then the local news played back the tape of them during that segment and my jaw dropped. All sympathy and pity I had for them losing their jobs went out the door. Not only did they know, but a listener called in while they were doing this and told them that what they were doing was dangerous and listed what could happen. The dj's said they knew and because waivers were signed they weren't responsible. They continued by saying that if she was going to die, it would happen after she left the station and would release them even more of responsibility. They were joking about it! They sounded so arrogant because I'm sure they didn't think a death would really happen. I can only imagine what they feel like now knowing what they said, how they made light of it, and how the entire area of Sacramento has heard it played over and over again.

There's a national talk radio show that has been discussing whether or not the family has a case because she did, in fact, sign the waiver and there's always the aspect of personal responsibility. What do you think? Do you think they have a case or not? From the info I've heard, the radio station did not physically tell the contestants that death was possible. They just gave them the waiver and they signed it.

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 1/19/2007 5:32:28 PM

I think this took a lot of people by surprise, Sylvia. I never knew you could die from drinking 2 gallons of water and I'm sure the people who entered the contest didn't, either. When I heard the taped phone calls on the news ... from doctors and nurses ... telling them that this could be fatal and then realized the DJs just treated it as some kind of joke, I couldn't believe it. It just seems to me that if people with medical backgrounds called the station and told them that this could be fatal, at least one of them should have had the good sense to put a stop to that particular contest and think of something else to do. I'm also totally amazed that anyone could drink that much without needing a bathroom ... this from someone who's running to the pot after one cup of coffee. I don't think the fact that she signed a release is going to keep the radio station out of big, big trouble.

Joyce

Mark

Posted : 1/19/2007 5:32:28 PM

there are an awefull lot of people out there willing to do stupid things for money..

before the contest was staged,all possibilities of injury should have been looked into..

i say the station is at fault for allowing a possibly dangerous contest to take place...

espencer

Posted : 1/19/2007 5:33:59 PM

Why you can die from whater intoxication?:

[linkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_intoxication[/link]

I heard the tapes from the radio show, when the lady called to say it was dangerous one of the guys even say in joking tone "we are aware of that", before everything started the co-host girl said "i think we should be researching about this to find out if it is dangerous"

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 1/19/2007 5:35:51 PM

The prize wasn't even money. All the poor woman was trying to do was win some kind of video game system for her three kids - now left without a mother. DH, who's an attorney (a judge, actually) said he doesn't think that release is going to mean diddly if there's a huge lawsuit ... and I'm sure there will be.

Joyce

ashland

Posted : 1/19/2007 5:44:01 PM

Exactly. They had listeners calling in telling them what could happen and they responded with complete arrogance! Not ignorance because they already knew, but arrogance. They really didn't think anyone was going to be sick or dying from this, but that's why it was completely irresponsible on their part.

I didn't know you could die from water intoxication until this happened either. However, my grandmother is not allowed to drink more than a certain amount of water in a day for this very reason. The doctors have told her that it thins her blood and lowers her sodium level which could be fatal. This is exactly what happened with this woman.

It's just an awful situation all around. I can't stop thinking of this since I see it on the news every day, read about in the papers and my co-workers are all still talking about it. My thoughts are with this family. She had 3 children . . . It's so sad. And she was only 28.

cakana

Posted : 1/19/2007 5:59:04 PM

There's a national talk radio show that has been discussing whether or not the family has a case because she did, in fact, sign the waiver and there's always the aspect of personal responsibility. What do you think? Do you think they have a case or not? From the info I've heard, the radio station did not physically tell the contestants that death was possible. They just gave them the waiver and they signed it.

I actually listen to that station on the drive in sometimes and I was listening when the woman called to say they could die and the DJs laughed it off. When I heard later that day that the woman had died, I felt horrible. Then I had an ultrasound in Roseville on Wed AM and when I checked in they had Jennifer Strange's pictures posted "in memory of" all over the place. I knew she worked for RAS, but I asked if it was that location and the girl said "yes and she was the most fun, giving person". I just told her how sorry I was and walked away with tears in my eyes.

From what I've read, the waiver they signed had only to do with publicity, nothing to do with any dangers related to the contest. Even had it spelled it out though, I doubt they'd have a leg to stand on.

Michelle

Posted : 1/19/2007 6:18:34 PM

Fuzzydog, what does your DH think of the possibility of a criminal action against them? I have no doubt a civil suit will prevail, those waivers are so standard, you sign the same thing if you go roller skating or to a gymnastics class. I have long had very little respect or tolerance for these shock-jock morning radio people. IMHO, these jerks are cut from the same cloth as those soldiers who terrorized that poor crippled dog. I just keep thinking of those poor kids, one just eleven months old, just a baby.

ashland

Posted : 1/19/2007 6:24:05 PM

ORIGINAL: cakana
I actually listen to that station on the drive in sometimes and I was listening when the woman called to say they could die and the DJs laughed it off. When I heard later that day that the woman had died, I felt horrible. Then I had an ultrasound in Roseville on Wed AM and when I checked in they had Jennifer Strange's pictures posted "in memory of" all over the place. I knew she worked for RAS, but I asked if it was that location and the girl said "yes and she was the most fun, giving person". I just told her how sorry I was and walked away with tears in my eyes.

From what I've read, the waiver they signed had only to do with publicity, nothing to do with any dangers related to the contest. Even had it spelled it out though, I doubt they'd have a leg to stand on.

I used to listen to it as well. I would toggle between stations and that was one of them. I agree with you when you say even if they had spelled it out they wouldn't have a leg to stand on. I'm sure they'll settle. I really don't see how they could contest something like this. It would make them look even worse with the public if they tried to contest it.

ottoluv

Posted : 1/19/2007 6:26:04 PM

They played the tape on fox news this morning. The poor woman is complaining of a severe headache, which is a cardinal sign of hyponatremia causing cerebral edema and they continued to egg her on. They even commented on how full her belly looked and asked her if she was pregnant. It is common knowledge that people can die from water intoxication and if they would have asked ANYONE in the medical field they would have pulled the plug on this. When I used to teach swim lessons as a kid they teach you to be careful not to let the little babies drink too much pool water for this reason. Also, there has been several cases of fraternity hazing that ended up with a dead college kid in a H20 drinking contest.

Regardless of whether or not a person signs a release, the station is responsible as they did not research the contest sufficiently or relay the risks appropriately. Imagine if they had a russian roulette contest, would they be off the hook if someone signed a waiver, I don't think so. Releases are as useless as signing a consent before surgery, people who sign these routinely sue and win even if the consent/release covers exactly what they have happen to them.

cakana

Posted : 1/19/2007 6:42:06 PM

I never knew you could die from drinking 2 gallons of water and I'm sure the people who entered the contest didn't, either.

I do have to say that I could no more drink that much water than fly to the moon. It's just unimaginable for me. I had to drink 2 12 oz bottles of water for an ultrasound last week and I could barely get that down.

Michelle

Posted : 1/19/2007 6:43:15 PM

Ottoluv, your Russian roulette example is exactly the one I used with my DH when we discussed this! We were both well aware of the dangers of water intoxication, in fact I've seen it portrayed on several TV shows, one of the "Law and Order" varieties in particular a few years ago. I simply can't believe, in this day and age of the internet, some intern flunkie at the radio station wasn't asked to google "drinking too much water" and come up with the same results I just did, which should have given them enough info to stop this stupid idea in the first place. I really, really, really hope they pursue criminal charges against these jerks.

ottoluv

Posted : 1/19/2007 6:46:09 PM

I really, really, really hope they pursue criminal charges against these jerks.

I do as well, those poor kids lost their mom because of this, so sad

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 1/19/2007 6:53:20 PM

The didn't even have to google for info. They had two or three phone calls from medical personnel telling them that this could be fatal and to pull the plug on it. They just laughed and said that she signed a waiver, and if she did die she'd already be home by then so all of them were off the hook as far as any responsibility. I think they're all going to be in for a big surprise.

Joyce

Susan Robertson

Posted : 1/19/2007 7:33:34 PM

While I'm glad those goofy DJ's and other brainiacs who started this contest were fired, I still think there is personal responsibility. I think both parties are liable, unfortuneately she's dead, so it'a a moot point! We have become a society that quickly blames somebody else for our actions. Oops! I spilled hot coffee on myself......let me sue the pants off McDonalds. It's that mentality that drives me crazy.

When I heard that RN call in and tell them how dangerous this was and they poo-poo'd her, I knew they sealed their fate. At the same time, I can't imagine entering such a contest all for a Wii system. That's what's so sad about it. All for a video game system!! She was 28, an adult and made the decision to do this. I"d be curious to see what type of waiver they used and if any medical issues were included. Terrible tragedy all around.