Which statement correctly matches the water loss threshold for death?

Which statement correctly matches the water loss threshold for death?

• A. Death occurs at 25% water loss
• B. Death occurs at 5% water loss
• C. Death occurs at 60% water loss
• D. Death occurs at 90% water loss

Answer: (A)

When the body loses water, blood volume drops and the balance of salts and fluids is disrupted. This reduces the heart’s ability to pump effectively and compromises the function of organs. As dehydration progresses, the risk of shock and organ failure rises sharply. Around a quarter of body water lost is a tipping point where these problems become severe enough that death can occur if the situation isn’t reversed. That’s why the threshold often cited in medical and survival contexts is about 25% water loss. A much smaller loss, like 5%, mainly causes thirst and dry mouth and is not fatal. The other extreme values describe amounts far beyond what the body could typically survive or would be observed as the point of death in most realistic scenarios, so they’re not used as the standard threshold.

When the body loses water, blood volume drops and the balance of salts and fluids is disrupted. This reduces the heart’s ability to pump effectively and compromises the function of organs. As dehydration progresses, the risk of shock and organ failure rises sharply. Around a quarter of body water lost is a tipping point where these problems become severe enough that death can occur if the situation isn’t reversed. That’s why the threshold often cited in medical and survival contexts is about 25% water loss.

A much smaller loss, like 5%, mainly causes thirst and dry mouth and is not fatal. The other extreme values describe amounts far beyond what the body could typically survive or would be observed as the point of death in most realistic scenarios, so they’re not used as the standard threshold.