1. Adapted from the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York Case Study #1 Lost in the Desert!

2. Patient: Mark Basic Background/Vitals: 35 years of age Caucasian body weight = 70 kg height = 178 cm

3. Mark’s Case: 7 AM July 13 th Mark starts out on a 3-hour drive across the desert on US 95 from Yuma, Arizona to Blythe, California. Expected to be a very hot July day. Mark called his fiancée just before he left, informing her he would be arriving in Blythe around 11 AM where she was waiting for him. When Mark failed to arrive by 12 noon, his fiancée became nervous and called the highway patrol. Unfortunately, the area Mark was traveling through is so remote, cell phones are useless.

4. 12:30 PM July 13th Search and Rescue Officer Maria Arroyo reports finding an abandoned car on the side of the road matching the description provided by Mark’s fiancée. She notes that the car has a damaged grill and radiator. She also notices shoe prints leading into the desert toward some low mountains in the distance. Officer Arroyo immediately calls her base for helicopter assistance, consults her GPS, and provides the exact coordinates.

5. 3:00 PM July 13 th Local radio station reports temperature at 105° F in the shade with a relative humidity of 5%. From a helicopter, paramedic Henry McAlister reports seeing a shirtless, hatless man wandering in the desert. Upon landing the helicopter and confronting the man, the crew found him conscious but clearly delirious. In fact, the man was unable to identify himself. It wasn’t until Henry located the man’s driver’s license that it was confirmed this man was indeed Mark.

6. Mark’s Symptoms weak, nauseous, disoriented, and complained of a headache blood pressure = 70/50 Mark was NOT sweating despite the oppressive heat body temperature = 105° F Mark’s face and back were VERY red Now, refer to the question sheet you are about to receive.