Nik Gallegos, 18, Alcohol Poisoning

Mr. Gallegos was a freshman at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.  On Saturday, October 5 2007, Mr. Gallegos attended a party off campus, and was later found unresponsive.  He died on Sunday.

As always, my condolences to his family and friends.

From http://www.courier-gazette.com/articles/2007/10/11/mesquite_news/news/news_09.txt

Poteet graduate and Stephen F. Austin freshman  died earlier this week after being treated for alcohol poisoning, following an off camps party, Nacogdoches police said.

Gallegos 18, died on Sunday night after friends drove him to a local hospital earlier that weekend, said Sgt Greg Sowell.

“It was a private party at an apartment complex,” Sowell said.

Sowell said it is not known how much alcohol Gallegos consumed. Friends took him to the hospital after finding Gallegos unresponsive Saturday night after a party. The friends then drove Gallegos to a local hospital. Sowell said it is still unknown whether anyone will face charges.

“The case is still under investigation” Sowell said. “We are not going to speculate as to what or what did not happen.”

Gallegos, a freshman was member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity pledge school, said SFA Vice President for University Affairs, Steve Westbrook. “Nick was a new student, a freshman who had attended orientation and he was off to a great start,” Westbrook said.

“We do have counselors here on campus that are available to students that were not only part of Nick’s fraternity but to other students who may need help coping,” Westbrook said.

From http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=7185471&nav=menu118_3

Floyd and Casey Gallegos are coming out of a parent's worst nightmare. Their son is dead from alcohol poisoning.   " Ultimately it comes down to them making the right decision. Knowing their limits. Unfortunately, he made a bad decision and it cost him his life, " said Mr. Gallegos.   

This weekend the Mesquite couple rushed to be by their son's bedside. Slowly family members watched the affects of alcohol poisoning take over Nik's body.    " He was in the deepest coma you can be in without being dead by the time we got here. We basically had to spend two days looking at him on the machine that was keeping him alive.  "

Far from the fun loving, outgoing, energetic spirit that Nik Gallegos had growing up. He always loved being with his family, enjoying times with siblings and cousins. As a college student he loved hanging out with friends. Many of them gathered through the weekend on the front steps of Medical Center Hospital. They conducted a candle light vigil Sunday evening when he was taken off life support.

Gallegos was just accepted into the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. A TKE press statement says the accident didn't happen at a fraternity sanctioned event. It also expressed their sorrow for the family.

Nacogdoches Police are investigating the incident with the help of SFA police.  Gallegos was under the legal drinking age. Possibly, if he was in the company of those 21 years or older there could be legal ramifications. 

The Gallegos don't blame anyone for the accident, but their son.  " He could drink anything. It didn't matter what it was. He was having fun. He just took it to an extreme,"  said Mr. Gallegos. The parents knew their son drank. " We've all been through it, so we understand he was drinking and we are ok with that as long as he would know his limits," said Mr Gallegos.

But Friday night Nik didn't know when to stop. He was at a gathering at Woodforest Apartment on North Univeristy Drive. Too many beers caused Nik to collapse. His friends rushed him to the hospital.    " We are thankful those kids were educated enough to know something was wrong and they took him to the hospital even though it didn't save his life it gave us time to say goodbye, " said Casey Gallegos.

Perhaps they knew what to do from what they learned earlier.    SFA administrators know alcohol has always presented a problem for some SFA students. That's why they are taking extremes to issue the precautions. They require all incoming freshman to take a mandatory on line alcohol education course. Director of Student Life, Michael Preston oversees the program. "It assesses student's based on their current level of alcohol consumption and then prescribes a system of education so students can learn more about how alcohol affects their bodies."

Nik's death sends out a much more sobering lesson. His father advised, " Please be careful . Don't end up like our son did. " 

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.