Re: Interesting Question
Let's take another look at your example, SirRoxalot. But I don't know what site you are getting it from. People's Google results are not all the same (please provide the actual link):
SirRoxalot said:
One more time - Google search for water intoxication - first listing, third paragraph:
A person with two healthy kidneys can excrete about 900ml (0.24 gal)/hr.[2] 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.
So this part, in and of itself MAY lead one to think that a person with HEALTHY KIDNEYS and "on a normal diet" can only consume a little less than a gallon at one sitting. BUT you failed to read on, because the article says HOWEVER:
SirRoxalot said:
However, this must be modulated by potential water losses via other routes.
That means other than urination, like sweating. Now, the contest was to "Hold Your Wee"...and there was NO exercising, so, NO or very little sweating going on, unless someone was seriously perspiring.
SirRoxalot said:
For example, a person who is perspiring heavily may lose 1 L/hr (0.26 gal) of water through perspiration alone, thereby raising the threshold for water intoxication. The problem is further complicated by the amount of electrolytes lost in urine or sweat, which is variable within a range controlled by the body's regulatory mechanisms.
So, it is REASONABLE to assume, YES ASSUME, that Water Intoxication happens BECAUSE of the LOSS of FLUIDS
AND the NON-REPLENTISHING of electrolytes LOST as a result of URINATION and/or SWEAT. Not just because someone is consuming alot of fluids, according to this example.
Since the contest DIDN'T allow the contestants to urinate, and they were not exercising, the electrolytes were not LOST during the contest, unless someone couldn't hold it any longer. They (the electrolytes) were diluted, yes, but not lost. So YOUR EXAMPLE, clearly states that the CONSUMPTION ALONE does not attribute to WATER INTOXICATION. Because, (I'll explain it again, I know this is complex for some) when you drink lots and lots of water
and then urinate you flush out the electrolytes, and if the electrolytes are not replenished in a timely manner (probably within an hour or two), you can THEN begin to suffer from Water Intoxication (you start exhibiting symptoms: dizzyness, headaches, vomiting). If you sweat in addition to urinate, then you are INCREASING THE
RISK of Water Intoxication. BUT, the contest didn't allow the contestants to urinate and they were not exercising, so they were not losing their electrolytes.
NOW...here is where I see the fault of Entercom on this, based on this explanation that SirRoxalot has provided. If all the contestants upon elimination or completion then urinated and did not eat or drink something (like a Gatorade type drink, or Saltine type crackers) that would have the nutrients to balance out the electrolytes, then THAT is what could be dangerous. It's NOT the actual consumption of the water, but not replenishing the electrolytes lost in the dilution, and in the eliminating waste. This is where the health care professional could have made a difference, making sure that everyone had a couple crackers, after urinating and before leaving. The promotion could have tied Red Cross into it and had "an audience" giving blood, while the contestants drank the H20. The Red Cross Medics could have monitored the contestants and provided the "nutrients" to ensure the electrolytes remained in balance.
I will state again that HEALTHY people actually DIEING from water intoxication is extremely RARE, doesn't happen enough to matter, really (I don't mean to trivialize the life that was lost but what I mean is it's not like an epidemic where millions die each year from it). All the other contestants rebounded fine. And they were probably not in danger of dieing either, because they were otherwise HEALTHY. There is something we are not being told by the Strange Family about Jennifer's condition that would put her over the edge. As I have stated in other posts, there could be medication or health problem involved, etc etc. Anyway I stand by my belief that it is incumbant upon the contestant to know what their health situation is, and to not participate in ENDURANCE CONTESTS if they have a less than A Grade on the report card, and to not rely on a DJ or any radio Station Staff to tell them if they are fit. I will ALWAYS refer to my OWN DOCTOR to tell me if I am fit for anything, not a DJ or Radio Station Staff, or even a paramedic standing by...because the paramedic can only base his/her decision to allow you to participate based on information YOU provide. If YOU lie...you could DIE.