LT Collapses, Later Dies, At Ranger School

[CDG]

Soldier Dies After First Day Of Ranger School

Reported cause of death was hyponatremia. RIP LT.

 

[Ooh-Rah]

Oh no!

I guess I'd have to go back and look, but my perception is that SOF training deaths have increased recently. Specifically the SEAL candidate who drowned, the Airman who died during SERE, and now this.

 

[DocIllinois]

Such a shame. My sympathies go out to the Parros family.

 

[x SF med]

Hyponatremia on the first day of Ranger School.... there is other etiology here...

RIP LT, you died trying.

 

[AWP]

Hyponatremia on the first day of Ranger School.... there is other etiology here...

RIP LT, you died trying.

In my case, I wasn't conditioned for the heat of Benning (this is OCS, NOT Ranger school) when I had hyponatremia. Given the similarity in signs and symptoms the medics can easily misdiagnose you. They tried to push a standard saline IV. I was peeing frequently and it was clear and pointed out that I might try some Gatorade first. Problem solved. If the medics had their way that story could have a different ending.

 

[Red Flag 1]

Rest In God's Own Peace, Lt.

In my case, I wasn't conditioned for the heat of Benning (this is OCS, NOT Ranger school) when I had hyponatremia. Given the similarity in signs and symptoms the medics can easily misdiagnose you. They tried to push a standard saline IV. I was peeing frequently and it was clear and pointed out that I might try some Gatorade first. Problem solved. If the medics had their way that story could have a different ending.

With all that is known today by those doing serious training, replacing lytes with Gatorade, or other such drinks, is the norm. I'm a little surprised to see this happen, particularly in the military.

 

[DocIllinois]

Rest In God's Own Peace, Lt.
.

I agree with what @x SF med stated: there may have been something pathalogical at work here.

An undiagnosed salt losing nephropathy or nephrotic syndrome, or hypothyriodism? Primary polydipsia? The kid just came off a horrendous bout of diarrhea?

A moot point, at this point.

 

[Red Flag 1]

Many times these are found to have been an undiscovered cardiac event.

 

[AWP]

With all that is known today by those doing serious training, replacing lytes with Gatorade, or other such drinks, is the norm. I'm a little surprised to see this happen, particularly in the military.

This was in 2000. I think they lost a basic trainee in the previous year or so which made the medic's decision all the more surprising. I happened to see a story about it in the paper or else I wouldn't know because no one told us. It wasn't on the Army's radar back then.

 

[Gunz]

Very sad. RIP Lt.

 

[policemedic]

In my case, I wasn't conditioned for the heat of Benning (this is OCS, NOT Ranger school) when I had hyponatremia. Given the similarity in signs and symptoms the medics can easily misdiagnose you. They tried to push a standard saline IV. I was peeing frequently and it was clear and pointed out that I might try some Gatorade first. Problem solved. If the medics had their way that story could have a different ending.

Sounds like cookbook medicine and a clear lack of critical thinking.

 

[Viper1]

That sucks. Rest in Peace LT.

 

[Muppet]

Rest easy sir.

Makes me wonder if an ISTAT was used for POC testing. Seems, these days, everybody I see and bring into an ED gets POC testing (ISTAT is similar to a glucometer / think sugar checks. ISTAT can check labs, I have used em as a USAR medic, checking potassium, sodium and other labs.

M.

 

[Muppet]

Many times these are found to have been an undiscovered cardiac event.

You man like long Qt,maybe because of mag issues doc?

M.

 

[DocIllinois]

You man like long Qt,maybe because of mag issues doc?

M.

Or a sodium deficiency/ processing pathology leading to a cardiac event.

 

[Muppet]

Or a sodium deficiency/ processing pathology leading to a cardiac event.

Yes sir. I have seen marathon runners drop, sudden arrest, extended resuscitation yields favorable results.

M.

 

[SpitfireV]

Sorry for the boneheaded question in advance guys. Are you saying a lack of salt can lead to a cardiac event?

 

[DocIllinois]

Sorry for the boneheaded question in advance guys. Are you saying a lack of salt can lead to a cardiac event?

Someone who is normoatremic and has a pre-existing, perhaps asymptomatic, heart issue increases their risk of cardiac mortality if they progress to hyponatremia.

 

[SpitfireV]

OK thanks Doc. I learned some wordz today too


Cheers mate, much appreciated.

 

[Red Flag 1]

You man like long Qt,maybe because of mag issues doc?

M.

If you are looking for abnormalities, you may turn something up. If you are using a snap shot look at a young healthy person, you usually get a young healthy person.

But then: Sudden death in young people: Heart problems often blamed - Mayo Clinic.