eJanuary 27, 2005: The purpose of these posts are to track the number of people under the age of 25 or so who die of alcohol overdose or alcohol poisoning, particularly in settings where they are in the company of their peers, who could call 911 or transport the stuporous victim to an emergency room. (2004 roster; 2005 roster)
In 2000, an expert on fraternity life said, "Let's stop the deaths from alcohol," he said. "Right now, the Greek system needs your activism more than ever before." (attribution at bottom of post).
Somebody eventually got the message. Richard Amador, a student at CSU Chico, Butte College was taken to the emergency room BEFORE he died. (2004's partial total of alcohol poisoning deaths; 2005 roster of alcohol overdose on campus ).
(Updated news below, 1/25/05)
thPledge hospitalized with alcohol poisoning January 21, 2005
After a near-fatal blood-alcohol poisoning Thursday night, a 19-year-old Sigma Chi pledge is in fair condition at Enloe Medical Center, Chico police said.
At 8 p.m., Richard Amador was dropped off at Enloe Medical Center with a 0.40 blood-alcohol level, which is a near-fatal overdose of alcohol*, Lt. John Carrillo said.
Members of Sigma Chideclined to comment. Because Amador is under 21, police said they are investigating who supplied the alcohol. Carrillo said, "He is a minor intoxicated to the point that he was poisoned." When he was brought to Enloe, Amador was wearing a white T-shirt with the letter P spray-painted on, Carrillo said.
"Apparently he was a pledge," he said. This comes four years after Adrian Heideman died of alcohol poisoning as a Pi Kappa Phi pledge.
Carrillo said the Chico Police Department is concerned about alcohol use during the up-coming rush. "Our intent is to get the word out that consuming alcohol to a fatal level is not about what rush should be and not part of the university lifestyle," Carrillo said.
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A Chico fraternity where a teenage student suffered alcohol poisoning last week is on temporary suspension pending an investigation by Chico police.
The 19-year-old Butte College student was found unconscious in the backyard of the Sigma Chi house and taken to a hospital, where he was placed on life-support. Richard Amador was determined to have a near-fatal blood-alcohol level of .496, police said. A blood-alcohol level of .08 is the legal limit for driving.
Sigma Chi president Blake Peltz, who drove Amador to the hospital, confirmed the fraternity is on suspension. The fraternity is conducting its own investigation, as well, because the pledge event Amador was taking part in was supposed to be nonalcoholic.
Amador was released Saturday morning and returned to his parents' home in the Bay Area, he said.
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This is a bit confusing. "Chico" is the home of the California State University at Chico, but Mr. Amador was enrolled at a community college.
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Fraternity life at Chico makes the following pronouncements:
5. Dry Rush
Myth: My son will feel pressured into drinking when he joins a fraternity.
Fact: Joining a fraternity is an individual's decision. The rush process is an evaluation for a potential new member to decide if they want to pledge a fraternity or not. THE RUSH PERIOD IS DRY AND NO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED AT ANY RECRUITMENT EVENT. This policy is strictly enfored by the InterFraternity Council and school administrators.6. Zero Tolerance for Hazing
Myth: My son will be hazed and that hazing might involve alcohol.
Fact: This is a new era in fraternity life, and it is a lot different than several decades ago. Both the national fraternity, and the school, have a zero tolerance for hazing in any form, and new members are encouraged to report any suspicion of hazing to the school. Hazing will result in immediate expulsion from the university.
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*0.40 BAC could indeed be fatal, as this esteemed medical professional has said,
I’m not sure where you got the .40 figure for a critical level but the emergency rooms I have worked in all had .30 as a critical level for alcohol poisoning. I have seen 13 and 14 year old children with alcohol poisoning stop breathing and need to be put on a ventilator. For that matter I’ve seen young adults and adults intubated and put on ventilators for alcohol poisoning.
In research parlance, there are standardized amounts that constitute "a drink". A "standard" drink is defined as a measure of an alcohol-containing liquid (or now, solid, with jello shots) that contains 1/2 ounce (14 grams) of ethanol.
A standard "drink" then is 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, 8 ounces (1 cup) of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. The general rule of thumb used in defining "moderate drinking" is one standard drink per hour, no more than three standard drinks in a 24-hour period, on no more than two occasions in any seven day period.
This has nothing to do with what many people regard as "a drink". A recent study found that college kids routinely overestimated what is a standard drink--by an order or two or more. If Joe College says, "I had four or five drinks", the actual alcohol load taken on might be 5 ounces of ethanol, or 10 drinks. If Joe College weights about 170 and rammed that down in two hours, his BAC might be 0.10 or more. If you are at a keg party, the cups are either (commonly) 16 or 22 ounce cups. These are often used for mixed drinks as well.
The blood alcohol charts at Brad 21 will help you understand that the kind of drinking on campus isn't "moderate" or "social" drinking--it is designed to get the drinker into an altered state of consciousness.
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Let's end alcohol deaths now: October, 2000
When hazing expert Hank Nuwer spoke to fraternities and sororities two weeks ago, he noted that coming to Chico State University was a unique situation because normally he visits schools after a death or hazing tragedy. Now, after the death of an 18-year-old pledge, Nuwer's words carry a haunting message for the entire campus community.
"Pledges coming into school, even a small friendly school like this, want a primary group. You represent to them friendship ideals and all that they want," he said.
Nuwer also encouraged the audience to not take chances.
"It's not enough that you don't haze, but you have to step in when you see something," he said. "You won't get past someone dying if you could have stopped that death." Hazing is not just a Greek issue, Nuwer said.
"Let's stop the deaths from alcohol," he said. "Right now, the Greek system needs your activism more than ever before."
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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 Mission: 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.
Kimberly Ostien's memorial foundation: "With binge drinking on the rise, we feel it necessary to get the message out on the danger of alcohol, especially excessive alcohol consumed in a short period of time. Students are educated on drugs and alcohol but they will continue to experiment no matter what. We want to educate on what to do when a friend falls down or passes out from drinking. Often we want to put that person to bed to sleep it off and that is when the trouble can begin." The card lists the information, above.
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