A 17 year old Ohio girl got so drunk at a party she passed out. Her mother knew enough to call the police, who knew enough to summon an ambulance. The girl survived.
Teenage girl nearly killed by alcohol poisoning
A 17-year-old Ottawa Hills girl nearly died of alcohol poisoning early Monday after she passed out at a party on Wyndhurst Road near Olds Avenue in West Toledo, authorities said.
The girl, whose name was not released but who is a student at Ottawa Hills High School, was treated at Toledo Hospital, where her blood alcohol content was determined to be 0.37 percent, according to Earl Mack of the Ohio Department of Public Safety's investigative unit.
In Ohio, an adult motorist is considered to be legally intoxicated if their blood-alcohol level is at least 0.08 percent. For a juvenile motorist, the level is 0.02 percent, authorities said.
"We see it too often," Mr. Mack said. "The only reason she's not dead is because her mother got her to vomit after they arrived home."
No, the only reason she isn't dead is her mother didn't put her to bed to sleep it off, and she went to the hospital. If you kid is stuporous, as this one was, medical support is necessary.
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The victim and two friends, ages 16 and 17, went to the party late Sunday. One of the victim's friends drove. At the party, the girls were furnished alcohol. When the victim passed out early Monday, one of her two friends called the victim's mother.
The mother arrived quickly and drove her daughter home, where she made her vomit. But the girl passed out again. The mother then called Ottawa Hills police, who called EMS to take the girl to the hospital.
Authorities are considering criminal charges against the party host and those who furnished drinks to the victim, including furnishing alcohol to a minor, keeping a place where alcohol is served in violation of law, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, selling alcohol illegally, and child endangerment.
The girl will be charged with underage consumption of alcohol and visiting a disorderly place, Mr. Mack said.
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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