Karl Fazli, 21, Alcohol-Related Death

As always, my deepest condolences to family and friends.

Karl Fazil was a junior at Wittenberg University (Springfield, Ohio).  On the night of February 13, 2007, Mr. Fazil attended a party where he was seen to be "drinking heavily", and the party-goers put him on a futon in the living room, where he was  "found unconscious and unresponsive"  in  the following mornig  about 10 a.m.

Fazli was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, the Phi Eta Sigma honor society and an English major here at Witt. He most recently was recognized at the East Lake Division of the American Association of Geographers Conference for his paper titled "Housing Privatization: Deadlines and Difficulties in Russia." He'd also completed a three-week study tour to Russia last summer with fellow students, faculty members, along with President Erickson and his family.

"All of us in the Wittenberg family are shocked and deeply saddened by Karl's unexpected death," said Erickson, "He was a joy to be with and he will be greatly missed he added.

Not only was Karl a bright student he was a responsible and dedicated friend. Upon remembering Karl, his housemates Kris Parmley, John Frobose, Dan Vincent and close friend Ross Morrow recalled his quirky personality.

"He was unique," said Parmley, "I have longed tried to figure out how his brain worked."

At times they say Karl was soft spoken but always could provide a laugh by a random comment or funny saying.

"Karl was quiet if you didn't know him but once you got a taste of his actual personality you just had to hang out with him," said Vincent. With a contagious personality and endless good time, his friends could only laugh when thinking about the memories.

"One time Dan and Karl came back and I had this new hot sauce, the kind you are only supposed to put one drop into a whole pot of chili, and Karl put a whole puddle in his hand and ate the entire thing and his face just turned and was like "oh man.. Oh man…," Morrow laughed.

It was the little things about Karl that made him one of a kind. "All of our languages are permanently destroyed with Karl-isms" said Vincent as they each impersonated his Indiana accent and appropriated sayings that have become common among them all. Most conversations with Karl couldn't go without a shouted "EYEAA," said his friends.

Frobose remembers when he and Karl went to the Wu-Tang concert: "We were really close to Method Man, Karl really like the concert; he was a big fan of Wu-Tang." Not only was he a lover of hot sauce and Wu-Tang, Karl was a dare devil.

"We just get so bored at our house, he'd sit in a chair and hold a football and throw it up and I'd jump over the chair and him to catch it, he was always willing to have fun," Vincent added.

Karl was certainly one that could light up a room with his crazy antics, Pacers gear, and wild hair. But most importantly, the way Karl lived was exemplified through his favorite quote: "Its nice being important, but it's more important to be nice."

Sources:
DaytonDailyNews: Dayton, Ohio, news and information

The Wittenberg Torch

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.