LOST IN THE DESERT!

By David Evans
Natural Sciences
Penn College/PSU
Williamsport, PA

Part I: July 13th, AM

Mark, a white, 35-year-old male weighing approximately 70 kilogram (kg) started a three-hour drive across the desert on US 95 from Yuma, Arizona, to Blythe, California. He set out at 7 AM on what was expected to be a very hot July day. He anticipated that it would take him about three hours to reach Blythe—plenty of time to make his 11 AM appointment with Sarah, his fiancée. When he failed to appear by noon, Sarah became concerned and called the highway patrol.
By 12:30 PM, Search and Rescue Officer Maria Arroyo, who was patrolling nearby, reported finding an abandoned car on the side of the road with a damaged radiator that
Heat strokes need to be treated quickly because a delay in treatment can damage your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles and increase the risk of more serious complications, up to and including death.
First Degree Burns: affect only the outer layer of the skin with no blistering. Signs of first degree burns are pain, redness, and swelling.
Electrolytes: the ionized or ionizable constituents of a living cell, blood, or other organic matter. Some examples of electrolytes are sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and protein.
Glucose: a simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates.
Melanin: a dark brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals. It is responsible for tanning of skin exposed to sunlight.

2. Assuming that Mark lost around 4 liters of water, what percentage of his body water did he lose?
Would you expect his urinary volume to decrease or increase during his trek? Please explain your answer.

3. Why was Mark’s blood pressure so low? Would his pulse rate decrease or increase? Please explain. Why was Mark dizzy and disoriented?

4. Assume that Mark had an unopened six-pack of beer in his car. Would it have been a good idea for Mark to bring the beer along in case he got thirsty? Why or why not?

5. What vitamin would Mark have in greater amounts in his body