Samantha Lynn Scheuring, 16, Alcohol Overdose

Samantha Lynn Scheuring was at a birthday party on January 14, 2007.  An adult present at the party provided vodka and high-proof rum, which Scheuring consumed.  The party started at 6:30 pm; at 10:40 pm Scheuring was unresponsive and emergency services were summoned, but Ms. Scheuring could not be revived.

My condolences to her family and friends.

http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/rss/s_488930.html

Link: Three charged in Vandergrift girl's death - PittsburghLIVE.com.

Samantha Lynn Scheuring, of Wallace Street, Vandergrift, died at a Jan. 14 birthday party where juveniles were drinking, authorities said. Diane Rose Adorante, 37, who rented the apartment at 224 Longfellow St. where the party was held, is charged with involuntary manslaughter. She also is charged with corruption of minors and furnishing liquor or beer to minors.

[snip]

Witnesses told police that Scheuring was drinking vodka and a 151-proof rum. An autopsy revealed she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.44 percent. That is more than five times the legal limit for adults to drive.

According to police reports, the party was for one of Adorante's daughters and started at 6:30 p.m.

At some point before 9 p.m., Scheuring went to the bathroom because she was ill. She next went to a bedroom to lie down, police said.

Police allege that Adorante was in and out of the house during the party. Sometime between 9 to 9:30 p.m., Adorante was told the girl had passed out, police allege.

The affidavit claims that she tried to wake the girl, then wasn't seen until the ambulance arrived.

The affidavit said Leone called 911 and asked the dispatcher to send an ambulance.

According to police, the ambulance crew could not revive the girl. She was pronounced dead about three hours after she was found unresponsive.

Alcohol is "still the most common illegally used substance that juveniles use," said Dr. Neil Capretto.

In all cases, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heartbeat and the gag reflex that prevents choking. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops drinking, the heart keeps beating, and the alcohol in the stomach continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the system. The victim may experience the following:

• Mental confusion, stupor, coma, unable to rouse the person
• No response to pinching the skin
• Vomiting while sleeping or unresponsive
• Seizures
• Slowed breathing  (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness

Alcohol Poisoning Requires Immediate Medical Attention

Alcohol Poisoning Cannot Be Reversed By:

• Drinking black coffee
• Taking a cold bath or shower
• Walking it off

The victim must have immediate medical attention.
Call 911, stay with the victim to prevent him choking on vomit, and tell emergency personnel how much alcohol the victim drank.

These Children Died of Alcohol Overdose, So Their Parents Started Foundations:

Taylor Webster's memorial foundation.  Taylor died of alcohol  poisoning at age 19-- Now his family and friends are working  to get the message out, telling their stories and providing  information on alcohol poisoning and the signs and symtoms  of alcohol poisoning in hopes that lives will be saved.

Bradley McCue's memorial foundation.  On November 5, 1998  Bradley turned 21. . He celebrated  his birthday in a way that has become increasingly popular, drinking "his  age in shots". That amount of alcohol was lethal and he died  that night of alcohol poisoning.

Samantha Spady's memorial foundation. A 19-year old student at Colorado State University, Spady died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004, "an unintentional tragedy."  The Spadys say the SAM [Student Alcohol Management] Spady Foundation will develop peer-to-peer counseling and other services meant to reduce the risk of alcohol abuse.

Gordie Bailey's memorial foundation.   The mission of the Gordie Foundation is to provide today’s youth with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, and through education and promotion of self worth prevent alcohol poisoning, binge drinking and hazing.

            

Comments

[Liz Ditz]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07145/788907-56.stm

A Vandergrift woman has been held for trial on charges of supplying alcohol to a group of juveniles in January, including a 16-year-old girl who died of alcohol poisoning after downing numerous shots of vodka and rum.

Diane Adorante, 39, was held following a preliminary hearing Wednesday before Vandergrift District Judge Bernice A. McCutcheon on charges related to a birthday party held at her apartment.

Samantha Scheuring, a Kiski Area High School student from Vandergrift, died Jan. 14 after drinking there. An autopsy showed Samantha's blood alcohol level was 0.44, more than five times the drunken driving threshold in Pennsylvania.

Ms. Adorante faces trial on one count of involuntary manslaughter, 10 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors and six counts of corruption of minors.

Two other adults, Matthew Alan Baker, 21, and David Joseph Leone, 25, also are charged with multiple counts of furnishing and corruption.