There was a big beer bash going on at some unnamed Chico Sorority Saturday night (February 19, 2005), when the police were called because some of the guests were getting out of hand. I guess the hostesses were a bit out of hand too, because when police searched the house, a freshman, Tara Johnson, was found unconscious. She was transported to the hospital and was found to have a BAC of .32 .
There were two separate alcohol poisonings last weekend.
- Tara Johnson, 18, was drinking all night, first at the Sigma Kappa sorority, then a a party at a non-Greek house, then she stopped in at the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. She was discovered there, unconcious, and the AGR brothers called 911.
- Veronica Campbell, 18, (not a Chico State student), attended a kegger organized by the Chico State Snowboarding Club at 831 Rio Chico Way. Campbell became unconcious and was discovered by police, and transported to the medical center.
Teen Collapses From Alcohol Poisoning At Chico Sorority
February 22, 2005CHICO, Calif. -- Police are investigating a party at a Chico sorority where an 18-year-old woman collapsed from alcohol poisoning. Police arrived at the sorority house around 10 p.m. Saturday and found 18-year-old Tara Johnson unconscious. She was taken to Enloe Medical Center, where her blood-alcohol level was found to be .32 percent -- four times the legal limit.
Officials say Johnson barely survived the overdose.'
It was evidently a rowdy night in Chico:
Police Car Pelted with Bottle, Unconscious Girl Discovered In Sorority
Police are looking into who supplied a Chico State University freshman with liquor Saturday night, resulting in alcohol poisoning that nearly cost the young woman her life. Just after 10 p.m., university police arrived at a sorority house in the 800 block of Rio Chico Way, where a large party was in progress. One patrol car was immediately hit with a bottle thrown by an unidentified partygoer.
University police asked for backup from Chico police before investigating. Inside the residence they discovered an unconscious Tara Johnson, 18. She was rushed by ambulance to Enloe Medical Center, where her blood-alcohol concentration was measured at 0.32 percent, which is four times the legal threshold for intoxication.
Officials said Johnson barely survived the overdose, but was recovering Monday at the hospital. Johnson was reportedly a Sigma Kappa pledge, but the party wasn't at that organization's house.
Campus police knew about the party, which had allegedly been advertised as a "kegger" in fliers posted at Whitney Hall last week. Chico police Sgt. Ford Porter said it was an "open party" but organizers were reportedly upset with the behavior of some attendees and wanted officers to remove them.
Porter said police have recommended that a charge of drunk in public be filed against Johnson by the district attorney.
The incident is the second serious alcohol poisoning this year connected with a Chico State fraternity or sorority. In January, a Butte College student and pledge to Sigma Chi fraternity nearly succumbed when excessive drinking at a hazing-related function raised his blood-alcohol concentration to 0.496 percent.
A 21-year-old pledge to Chi Tau, a fraternity that lost its university backing in 2002, died Feb. 2 during a hazing ritual involving heavy water consumption and strenuous exercise.
On Sunday, Chico State University President Paul Zingg issued a warning to the school's Greek system, saying hazing activities had to stop if fraternities and sororities were to survive.
Staff writer Greg Welter can be reached at 896-7768 or [email protected]
Ok, the preceding story was wrong. Here's the more accurate version:
Two serious alcohol poisonings being investigated by police
By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer
A chaotic 24-hour period last weekend that had Chico police dealing with four major incidents led to confusing information about one of them an alcohol overdose that appeared in Tuesday's Enterprise-Record.
Police actually responded to two alcohol poisonings one early Saturday morning, the other late Saturday night and both involved 18-year-old female victims.
At 1:06 a.m. Saturday, members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity discovered a female passed out inside their residence and called 9-1-1.
Chico police and fire units rushed to the house at Second and Ivy streets, where they discovered Tara Johnson, 18, suffering from what appeared to be alcohol poisoning.
She was taken to Enloe Medical Center, where her blood-alcohol concentration was measured at 0.348 percent more than four times the threshold for legal intoxication.
Police said Johnson, a freshman at Chico State University, had been drinking earlier at the Sigma Kappa sorority house on West Fourth Street.
She was later seen drinking at a gathering near Eighth and Ivy streets.While returning to Whitney Hall with a group of friends, she reportedly decided to stop at the AGR house, where she was later found unconscious.
It isn't believed Johnson did any drinking there, police said.
A charge of drunk in public may be filed against the young woman, who was identified as a Sigma Kappa pledge.
Johnson has been released from Enloe. An investigation into the incident, including an attempt to learn who furnished the underage student with liquor, is continuing.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday, police were checking on a large party at 831 Rio Chico Way and reportedly saw a female being carried out of the residence by friends.
They discovered the woman had passed out, apparently from alcohol consumption, and called for medical help.
Veronica Campbell, 18, was taken to Enloe Medical Center, where her blood-alcohol concentration was measured at 0.20 percent about two-and-a-half times the level for legal intoxication.
She has since been released from the hospital.
Campbell, who isn't a Chico State student, was reportedly visiting Chico from Concord. There are no charges pending against her.
The party was sponsored by the Chico State Snowboarding Club, police confirmed Tuesday. Club representatives couldn't be reached immediately for comment.
University police knew about the party, which had been advertised as a "kegger" last week in fliers posted at Whitney Hall. It was open to anyone, they said.
When they first arrived Saturday night to do a routine check, an unidentified partygoer hurled a bottle at a patrol car.
The action caused officers to delay checking on the party until backup arrived from the Chico police.
An investigation into the incident is continuing. It isn't known if the university will seek disciplinary action against the club.
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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