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#37237 - 02/04/05 11:47 PM Re: Melting snow
norad45 Offline
Veteran

Registered: 07/01/04
Posts: 1506
"....the water did something to his blood that caused the death."

I believe it, and I just read something in the paper about this not two days ago. A frat pledge died from ingesting too much water. I'll try to find the details.

Vince

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#37238 - 02/05/05 12:03 AM Re: Melting snow
Brangdon Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/12/04
Posts: 1204
Loc: Nottingham, UK
The Leah Betts story is a famous UK case.

It's controverial because it involves the drug Ecstasy. Apparently people who take Ecstasy can and do dance all night, overheat, sweat a lot to cool down, and so become dehydrated. They need to drink a lot to compensate. Leah took the drug, and then felt a bit funny. She must have decided she was dehydrating and needed some water. When that didn't help she drank some more. She still felt funny. Towards the end she must have been forcing herself to drink, believing she would die if she didn't. The water killed her.

Her parents say it was Ecstasy that killed her. Some people say she died of ignorance.
_________________________
Quality is addictive.

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#37239 - 02/05/05 03:11 AM Re: Melting snow
Anonymous
Unregistered


Hyponatremia (roughly translated, low sodium levels) ... I guess they're calling it "water intoxication" now. That story about the frat pledge is here. I think it also happens during marathons & such more frequently than it used to -- everyone's had the danger of dehydration drummed into their heads, but not as many people know about the dangers of overhydration.

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#37240 - 02/07/05 03:55 PM Re: Melting snow
paramedicpete Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 04/09/02
Posts: 1920
Loc: Frederick, Maryland


Edited by paramedicpete (02/07/05 04:04 PM)

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#37241 - 03/06/05 01:11 AM Re: Melting snow
reconcowboy Offline
Member

Registered: 03/01/05
Posts: 170
Loc: Ohio
How much water should a person drink in a day then? I wsa forcing myself to drink almost 100 ounces each day until this morning when a friend told me you can die from drinking too much water. Then I reaad it here, maybe it is a sign from the higher power to stop> <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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#37242 - 03/06/05 04:10 AM Re: Melting snow
Be_Prepared Offline
Addict

Registered: 12/07/04
Posts: 530
Loc: Massachusetts
How much water do you need each day? Boy, that's a loaded question. It depends on so many things, from activity level, to temperature, physical condition, food intake, etc....

I typically carry two 1-liter Nalgeen bottles with me in my pack when I'm hiking, assuming we'll have access to a place to filter water and refill them regularly. If we're not going to be near a place where we can get water, the equations change obviously.

I took a look in the "AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership", and the author, Alex Kosseff, makes that 2 liter minimum per day recommendation, but, also goes on to say: "Two liters a day is a bare minimum - I have led groups where the 5 liters a day (at almost two pounds per liter) we carried was insufficient in the hot and dry desert."

I would note that in cold conditions, dehydration can really sneak up on you. In the desert, you know you're loosing water through sweat. In cold dry conditions, you're loosing a lot of water two, but, you're less conscious of it. You're actually breathing in very dry air and exhaling really moist air.
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- Ron

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#37243 - 03/06/05 01:41 PM Re: Melting snow
Brangdon Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/12/04
Posts: 1204
Loc: Nottingham, UK
I think you really have to go at it for drinking water to kill you. Spread over the course of a day, excess water is passed harmlessly. This has led to some faddish diets which advise drinking large amounts when it's not necessary.

I personally drink about a litre a day, none of which is "pure" water but is in the form of coffee, milk etc. I get more water from food and use it in cooking etc - eg rice takes me 300ml to cook of which about 200ml gets inside me. I reckon I could survive indefinitely on 1.5l/day. This is in the UK midlands, with a sedentary, mostly indoor lifestyle.
_________________________
Quality is addictive.

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#37244 - 03/06/05 02:16 PM Re: Melting snow
GoatRider Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 08/28/04
Posts: 835
Loc: Maple Grove, MN
If your pee is clear, you're fully hydrated. If you're peeing at all you're at least getting the minimum. At least that's what I've heard, and it makes sense.
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- Benton

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#37245 - 03/06/05 07:30 PM Re: Melting snow
bountyhunter Offline


Registered: 11/14/03
Posts: 1224
Loc: Milwaukee, WI USA
Reconcowboy:

I recall reading on one of the "military style survivalist" sites that the body can only process a certain amount of water intake per day and even if you continue to drink, you can become dehydrated from loss of water, with the only solution being rest to reduce the amount of water lost since anything the body can not process per day won't help.. They also suggested salt in order to retain the water in the body.

Some of our more knowledge medically oriented forum members may know of this physical limitation and they can better describe the quantities and conditions that arise.

Bountyhunter

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#37246 - 03/06/05 08:22 PM Re: Melting snow
NeighborBill Offline
Enthusiastic
Enthusiast

Registered: 03/02/03
Posts: 385
Loc: Oklahoma City
Goatrider's hit it on the head: pee clear, you are hydrated. Pee yellow, top off. Can't pee, got a headache, cramps, etc, you're in trouble. Next step is passing out and dying.

The body can process as much water as you feed it. However, with too much water you wash essential electrolytes out of your system; I've had many a demented infantryman come to my aid station because they were made to drink 2 quarts of water an hour in the summer and not given time to eat. Not saying you might not need that much...but you MUST eat. Normal food contains everything you need. Salt by itself is not acceptable.

"Normal" consumption rates for water when active range anywhere from 1/2 liter to 2 liters per hour depending on the temperature, humidity, and wind conditions. I can post more on this if anyone's interested.
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Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. --Robert A. Heinlein

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