Two Teens Die of Alcohol Poisoning over Holidays

Todd Slaughter — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:55:28 GMT

Today, the Enterprise Record Searchlight sadly reported the death of an 18-year-old Chico High Student that occurred in the early morning hours of New Years Day. Witnesses reported that he had been drinking earlier that night and retired about 2:30 am. Soon thereafter he was found vomiting and convulsing. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead at 5:00 am. Toxicology reports have not yet confirmed the cause of death.

The Holiday Season was marred by another tragic death when a 17-year-old Redding student was found unconscious in the bathroom of her friend's house. The two had been drinking after the parents had apparently gone to bed. Alcohol poisoning was determined to be the cause of death.

These two events in such a short span of time in Northern California reminds us of the importance of communicating the potential lethal nature of so-called "binge drinking" with our adolscents. These young people do not appreciate the intoxicating effects of these beverages, nor how alcohol impaired judgment can lead to dangerous behavior that results in a lethal overdose.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has recently published a Statistical Snapshot of Underage Drinking at www.niaaa.nih.gov . This report shows that alcohol is the preferred drug of teenagers with 3/4's of 12th graders, 2/3's of 10th graders and as many as 2/5's of 8th graders admitting to its use. The study also reports as many as 5000 alcohol-related underage deaths occur each year, the majority arising from vehicular crashes.

Parents and other adults need to be reminded that providing alcohol to a minor is illegal in California and significant criminal penalties can attach.

SAFETY TIPS

The Student Health Services of the University of California at Davis has published guidelines on monitoring and responding to someone potentially suffeing from alcohol poisoning. For ease of reference, these steps are restated here:

Continually monitor the intoxicated person.
Check their breathing, waking them often to be sure they are not unconscious.
DO NOT exercise the person.
DO NOT allow the person to drive a car or ride a bicycle.
DO NOT give the person food, liquid, medicines or drugs to sober them up.
DO NOT give the person a cold shower; the shock of the cold could cause unconsciousness.

REMEMBER: THE ONLY THING THAT CAN SOBER A DRUNK PERSON IS TIME.

How to Tell if Someone Has Alcohol Poisoning

If the person is breathing less than 13 times per minute or stops breathing for periods of eight seconds or more CALL 9-1-1.
If the person is asleep and you are unable to wake him/her up, CALL 9-1-1.
Look at the person's skin. If it is cold, clammy, pale or bluish in color, CALL 9-1-1.
If the person is continually vomiting (repeated, uncontrolled), CALL 9-1-1.

Other Important Factors

Stay with a person who is vomiting. Keep him/her sitting up. If s/he must lie down, keep them on their side with head turned to the side. If person begins to choke, GET HELP IMMEDIATELY, CALL 9-1-1.
Any person that has altered consciousness, slowed respiration, repeated, uncontrolled vomiting, or cool, pale skin is experiencing acute alcohol intoxication (alcohol poisoning). This is a medical emergency and you MUST get help! CALL 9-1-1.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Fire Fighter's Benefit Leads to E-Coli Outbreak

Todd Slaughter — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:28:48 GMT

OROVILLE, Calif. - A fundraising benefit for the Forest Ranch volunteer fire department has been identified as the source of a recent outbreak of E. coli related illnesses in Butte County. The fundraiser took place on September 6, 2008. There have been 13 reported cases of E. coli related illnesses. Four people have been hospitalized and one young girl had to be air lifted to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

The Chico Enterprise Record reports today that Butte County health officials suspect that the E. coli bacteria was contained in tri-tip meat served at the benefit. The strain is the dangerous E. coli 0157:H7. How the bacteria was introduced to the meat has not been determined.

Between 300 and 400 people attended the fundraiser. If you attended and are having any abdominal disorders, flu-like symptoms, feelings of weakness or malaise, you should be examined immediately. Young children and the elderly are particularly at risk for the serious complications that can accompany ingestion of this bacteria. Be safe and check with your physician.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Todd Slaughter

Redding Personal Injury Lawyer - Toxic Substances

Two Teens Die of Alcohol Poisoning over Holidays

Fire Fighter's Benefit Leads to E-Coli Outbreak