Nathan Black Celebrated His 21st Birthday and Died of Alcohol Poisoning and Exposure

Nathan Black turned 21 on January 31, 2005.  The night of January 30, he went to the bars to drink when the clock turned to the 31st.  He got so drunk he passed out in a parking lot and died.

My condolences to his family and friends.   Black is the third person 21 and under to die of alcohol poisoning in 2005*

Police identify man found dead in parking lot

01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, February 2, 2005

WEST WARWICK -- The man found dead Monday morning beneath a van parked in an Arctic lot was identified by the police yesterday as Nathan Black, of Mishnock Road, West Greenwich. Monday was his 21st birthday, the police said.

Black apparently crawled underneath the van, in the lot behind the Bank of America building on Washington Street, according to Maj. Charles E. Desrosiers. The body was discovered by a passerby at about 7:45 a.m., Desrosiers said.  The body showed no evidence of trauma, according to Desrosiers, who said it was expected to take the state medical examiner several weeks to detemine the cause of death.

In the meantime, he said, the police were seeking to determine Black's activities in the hours before his death.

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.

Comments

[Storyteller]

This is so heartbreaking! Too many young people drink just to get falling down drunk and it's so sad :( Then there are the kids that die in hazings at fraternities. Such a tragic waste!

[Bill]

Actually, I think it's closer to two hours for that amount of alcohol, which is also equal to 4 oz. of wine or one shot of liquor, to be eliminated, if at rest.