September 30, 2004: Despite freshman Gordie Bailey's death as a direct result of an alcoholic fraternity initiation ritual, the Colorado University fraternities want to reintroduce alcohol in the houses and resist reducing freshman rush.
October 6, 2004: Cody Barrington, 21, bought alcohol for underage fraternity brothers at the party where Blake Adam Hammontree died, and was arrested.
What to do
Can You Tell If You're Too Intoxicated?
Generally, you can't tell. First of all, alcohol impairs judgment, making your ability to reason difficult, especially at high doses. Second, it takes a while for all the alcohol in the stomach to travel out of the gastrointestinal system and into the blood supply, where it then reaches the brain and other organs. Depending upon how much you drink, how quickly you drink, and what else is in your stomach, it may take anywhere from about 30-90 minutes after you stop drinking, before you reach your highest level of intoxication. Although some drinking scenarios may require less or more time to reach the maximum level of intoxication, you can see that when you decide you have consumed enough alcohol and stop drinking, you will most probably continue to become even more intoxicated. Sweetly flavored alcoholic concoctions such as Jell-O shots, flavored brandies, schnapps or other drinks can go down easily and quickly but surprise you later on when they get into your brain.
Similarly, drinking "games" can be quickly fatal because large quantities of alcohol are often consumed over very short periods of time. Almost-straight alcohol drinks, such as EverClear are especially dangerous and should not be used at all.
Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning
If you have any of the following symptoms, you are experiencing an overdose reaction:
• Vomiting
• Passed out
• Difficult to awaken
• Slow, shallow breathing
图片8
Would you want to find yourself like this?
What You Should Do
Don't let a person who has been drinking heavily "sleep it off." If they persist in falling asleep, wake them up. If they don't respond, it's time to call the police emergency number (911) and tell them you need an ambulance for a possible alcohol overdose. Do not assume your friend will simply sleep it off. When in doubt, call for help. Don't take a chance with your friend's life. If you know or suspect that other drugs may have been taken, be sure to notify at least one or more ambulance personnel. Alcohol in combination with other drugs accounts for about 30% of all drug overdose deaths.
Remember, the word is intoxication.
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.
Monday, October 11, 2004 at 12:09 AM in Kid Drug Abuse | Permalink
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Comments
Liz,
Excellent post with good information about when to call 911 for alcohol poisoning. I am curious about who wrote the pamphlet for UC Davis as there is a point in there I’m not sure I agree with from a medial care perspective. It may be that the authors felt that it was more important to get the information out rather than quibble over a minor (and unproved) detail.
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.
One thing the pamphlet does not tackle is the mixture of Ecstasy (the drug) and alcohol. Ecstasy and other stimulants can interfere with the bodies antidiuretic hormone. This hormone governs the desire for thirst, and water retention. Alcohol causes one to become dehydrated, ecstasy accelerates this problem. When you mix ecstasy and alcohol you become dehydrated, sometimes fatally, because you lose the desire to drink fluids coupled with an actual loss of fluid. As the body continues to lose fluids and the persons temperature rises. The person sometimes experiences brain death secondary to extreme internal temperatures. One patient I cared for had a rectal temperature of 107, and died the following day.
Just something to think about before dropping that next ecstasy tab and washing it down with a beer.
Posted by: Azygos | Monday, October 11, 2004 at 08:05 PM
i was wondering is anyone could answer this... me and my buddy split a 40oz of vodka. I drank my half quite fast, probably in a half an hour. after a couple hours i vomited four times then went to sleep. What kind of condition do you think i was in? i am a 15 year old male who weighs 170 lbs.
Posted by: MIKE | Sunday, January 30, 2005 at 12:49 PM
I feel very enlightened after reading your site. I enjoyed those pictures of people spewing and naked girls -_^. Please post more ^^v
Posted by: viyaz | Thursday, September 08, 2005 at 05:37 PM
I'm really glad that u put this up its very moving, and very realistic. It proves how careless some people can be in their "golden years"
Posted by: Danielle | Monday, February 06, 2006 at 05:25 PM
Another tragic case for the list: Matthew Pearlstone. Cornell student died March 17 while visiting at the U of VA.
Posted by: | Thursday, March 23, 2006 at 10:31 AM
I live in montana, and it seems the only thing to do is to drink... This is speaking for the point of view of someone who is going on 21 (aug 29) for the curious... I was the son of a biker, and grew up at the parties and around bars... I do not drink heavily, and (due to actually listening to the stories) make it a point to fall asleep on my side, vomit when I need to, and all of the other such precautions... anyway, I would just like to state that I didn't see anywhere on here that says when intoxicated one should avoid playing in water (drink it, it helps hang over) but the effect of being in water, on the human body, is dehydration. As was stated earlier, alcohol dehydrates the body... If one's friend insists on using the restroom at any point in time, one should keep them out of the tub. Showers are not as bad as the tub, but in case of drowning, one should not let the use that either. If partying near a lake/pond/ocean/pool/other-form-of-body-of-water do not let them get in, play too near... Because, if one gets into a substance the dehydrates from the outside, and has consumed one the works from within, they are screwed... It happened to me once, not fun!
Posted by: Bridger | Thursday, July 20, 2006 at 01:08 AM
This doesn't just happen at frat parties. We had an employee who drank too much while working a trade show. We didn't realize how much at the time. We were VERY lucky she didn't die. We really didn't know how bad it was until we were told she'd passed out in the bathroom. Rather than call 911 she was taken to her hotel room and put in bed.
Posted by: Jerry | Friday, August 25, 2006 at 08:40 AM
Hi, I'm worried about my brother, he's 32 and definitely an alcoholic. My parents have been down to his house tonight and he was in bed, but didnt wake up (not that they tried to shake him or anything) they checked him for signs of cuts because he text his friend saying that he'd found blood when he woke up after heavily drinking earlier. My parents don't seem that worried, but I'm thinking he may have had an alcohol overdose. I know it's better to be safe than sorry, but what if he's just sleeping? As I've not seen him, I don't know what he looks like, but it sounds pretty bad to me. My parents found a bit of blood on the carpet, but only spots, so I thought he could have coughed it up or it could be vomit as they werent positive it was blood. Also, this morning he was round his friends house and was looking for alcohol in the middle of the night and apparently urinated on their carpet, so sounds like he was in an altered state too (more than usual). If anyone could reply ASAP please do.
Posted by: Jules | Sunday, September 10, 2006 at 02:57 PM
Drink till your drank point!!! But not over drunk line!!!
Posted by: Millenium | Friday, April 06, 2007 at 04:22 AM
See alchol is crazy they should take it away and legalize pot :)
Posted by: benjamin | Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 05:06 PM
the pic are ************************lol
Posted by: ashley | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 01:10 PM
OK.. first.. this was an interesting article with some good points and bad.. bein a 21 year old male (june 11) i have had my fair share of drinking and plenty of stories to go with it. I have been drinkin ever since i could remember from wine to liqour to beer. I stand 6'2" and barely weigh 150. I attended the University of Tennessee and all i can recall is lots of parties with beer and liquor and drugs. I have found myself blacked out many nights, waking up in wierd locations, and never seemed to vomit. I have mixed ecstasy, acid, weed, pills, and pretty much anything else with large amounts of beer and have never had a problem. But then again I also know when to call it quits, and thats where other people fail. So you cant really make judgements on mixtures of substances cause not every persons make up is the same.
Next.. you mention a few fraternities in your article and i would like to clarify one thing.. Fraternities are known for one thing.. drinking.. and drinking a ton.. kids who pledge for the fraternities you mention know this.. The UT chapters were well known for there parties and there pledge parties.. so basicall people should be smart enough to know these things and be able to quit when its time and not say, "Lets get another drink."
but once again.. nice article..
Posted by: Brian | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 01:46 PM
Oh and another thing.. everyone passes out from drinking here and there.. and some cant be woken up.. its happened to me.. i know this cuz i live with my girlfriend and she tells me the next day.. so you really cant tell if someone has alcohol poisoning unless you have a breathalizer or you just happened to be a doctor.. and vomitting cant really be consider as a symptom unless yes the person is passed out and does not wake up while doing it..
Posted by: Brian | Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 01:56 PM |