Kayla Davis, 17, Alcohol Poisoning

Kayla Davis was camping at a lake-side tournament in Oklahoma  on the night of April 12, 2007.  One of the other campers was celebrating a 21st birthday, and there was a lot of drinking going on.

Kayla was found dead the next morning.

My deepest condolences to her family and friends.

JAY — A Delaware County teenager died at a gigging tournament at Lake Eucha, Sheriff Jay Blackfox said Saturday.

The 15-year-old American Indian victim, whose name has not been released, is from the rural Salina area, which extends into southern Delaware County, Blackfox said.

The two-day gigging tournament, which began Friday night, has been an annual event for 34 years, sheriff's Detective Ron Teel said.

This is thought to be the first death associated with the tournament.

"The girl's body was discovered early Saturday morning by overnight campers,” Teel said.

He said the campers apparently went to wake her up, then realized she was dead.

There were no signs of foul play, Teel said.

Gigging is a water sport in which participants use a spear or claw device to impale fish or frogs.

Teen's death due to alcohol poisoning

TULSA--The Tulsa medical examiner’s office has confirmed the death of 17-year-old Kayla Davis was due to acute alcohol poisoning.

Friends found Davis unresponsive the morning of April 13 after a campout at the annual gigging tournament on Lake Eucha.

Investigative reports indicated that one attendee was celebrating a 21st birthday the evening before Davis’ death.

There were no visible marks on Davis, according to investigators, and the body was subsequently transported to the medical examiner’s office for autopsy.

District Attorney Eddie Wyant said Wednesday his office is waiting for the sheriff’s investigation to be completed before determining whether pursue any criminal charges in the matter.

Prosecution, Wyant said, would depend on whether a determination could be made who supplied the alcohol to the minor.

Sheriff Jay Blackfox said his investigator is in the process of reviewing the toxicology reports before turning the matter over to the district attorney.

In 2004, at least nineteen people of college age  died of alcohol toxicity (alcohol poisoning, alcohol overdose).

"There's no place  that's actually keeping data on alcohol deaths"--Thomas Kunstman MD

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.