Part IThe Discovery

Cast of Characters

• Sam GarrisonDetective
• Roma and Clint UnderhillThe hot couple
• Kavita Dickson and Larry Gonzalesemt paramedics
• Renee VolenbachPhysiologist in the Biology Department at Noletown University

Friday, 7PM

Roma and Clint Underhill had both had a long day. They were the owners of a successful real estate company in Desert Palm. Each had several clients, and the strain of the current real estate market was getting to them. It had been an unusually cool day for January, with temperatures hovering around 60 degrees. On coming home they decided to relax in their hot tub with some wine. While Roma changed from her work clothes, Clint said that he would join her in the hot tub after he took his Lasix.

Saturday, 8AM

911 Please state your emergency. Oh, Oh, I I

Maam, please calm down and tell me the address.

I think, yes, OK, its its 1223 Oak Creek Drive. What is the problem, please?

Im the maid for Mr. and Mrs. Underhill and and I didnt nd them in the house when I came in this morning, so I looked around outside. I just found them in their hot tub out back. They are under the water. Please come, please come now!

Yes, maam, Im alerting the EMTs and an ambulance will be on the way. Please go out front and wait, so the paramedics can nd the address quickly.

Saturday, 8:10AM

Paramedics Kavita Dickson and Larry Gonzales brought the ambulance to a stop at the end of a long driveway next to an impressive two-story mansion. The maid was on the front steps and quickly directed them to the back patio where the hot tub could be seen.

Empty bottles of wine were on the ledge surrounding the hot tub. Kavita quickly climbed up the steps and saw the bodies of the Underhills on the bottom of the hot tub. As she got into the water, she exclaimed, This water seems really hot. Lets see if we can get them out. Larry climbed in after her and together they dragged the bodies out of the hot tub and onto the patio. It was obvious that both had been dead for some time. Kavita called the dispatcher.

Listen, Linda, this hot tub case is a DOA, but something is not right. How about sending the medical examiner and a detective out to look the situation over. Tell them to bring a thermometer!

Part IIThe Investigation

Saturday, 9:30AM

115 degrees! What is this thing doing so hot? Sam Garrison asked Kavita as he removed the thermometer from the water.

He was investigating the death of Roma and Clint Underhill, prominent real estate brokers in Desert Palm. This hot tub should be no more than 109 degrees.

He remembered reading a Consumer Product Safety Commission yer on hot tubs and wondered if the tub was associated with the death. The bodies were being taken away for autopsy as he took in the scene.

Hmm. What about these bottles of wine? It looks like they had a partyall by themselves! The medical examiner will check their blood alcohol level (bal, or blood alcohol concentrationbac) and well be able to see his complete report on Monday. We may even be able to determine their cause of death with that information. Ill ask the maid about any medications.

He went into the sunroom o of the patio to where the maid was being consoled by another ocer. Maam, can you tell me if the Underhills were taking any medicine?

Well, sir, I know he was complaining about having to use the bathroom a lot since he returned from the doctors oce about two weeks ago. You might look in the cabinet over the sink where they keep aspirin and such.

Sam looked where she indicated and found a recently lled bottle of Lasix.

Monday Afternoon

Monday afternoon, the medical examiner phoned Sam with the following information:

• bal (Blood Alcohol) of the couple was .20
• Roma weighed 120 lbs; Clint weighed 160 lbs
• Time of death estimated at 2am Saturday morning
• There was a therapeutic level of Lasix in Mr. Underhills blood, but none in Mrs. Underhills blood

Part IIIThe Final Report

Later Monday Afternoon

Detective Garrison returned to police headquarters and, after reading the medical examiners complete report, began the process of writing his own explanation of what happened to the Underhills. As he wrote, he thought about all that had happened and began to wonder about the physiology associated with the couples death. The level of alcohol found by the medical examiner was high but was not necessarily sucient to cause their death, but was it a contributing factor?

Please discuss this case and answer the following 3 questions. Your post need to be at least 290 words in length, not including your 2 reference sources. 

1. What were the specic eects of the Lasix, hot water, and alcohol on the couples blood pressure?
2. Describe 2 mechanisms by which the body would compensate for a falling blood pressure. 
3. Describe several procedures that might have helped save the couple if they had been found unconscious with their heads still above water and alive.