{TAKE Fast Fact}

Noncardiac Pulmonary Edema can be caused by drinking that results in vomiting. Inhaling stomach contents, like those in throw-up (which is common when someone passes out) can cause fluid to leak from the capillaries in your lungs' air sacs because the capillaries become more permeable and leaky. When these sacs fill with fluid it prevents them from filling with oxygen. 

John Bonham's God given musical talent granted him no immunity against fluid filling his lungs and drowning him. Bonham died of Pulmonary edema at 32-years-old, but could have been saved if he had been taken to a hospital. Instead, he literally drowned in his own body after consuming more than 40 shots of hard liquor over a 24 hour period. His death led to the break-up of Led Zeppelin. Bonham, like others who die of alcohol and alcohol related accidents, was irreplaceable in his career and personal life.

A victim of PE literally drowns in their own body, almost like someone drowning in a pool. If you saw your friend drowning in a pool would you get them help? If you saw your friend passing out and vomiting wouldn't you do the same?-Information compiled from http://www.cnn.org/HEALTH/library/pulmonary-edema/DS00412.html

{In Memoriam}

A lot of people loved, and depended on Michael Starks for his wit, even temper and charm. The people who loved him most will think about him everyday and anguish over his absence during all the events he should still be alive for. They yearn for the simple warmth of his hug. Their pain will never waver.

The tragedy of Michael's death one year ago, today, not only highlighted the inherent danger of alcohol, but also emphasized the eternal impact of life's daily choices. The choices made the night before Michael passed away should always serve as a constant reminder that our communities are our responsibility. Our brothers and sisters are an extension of our lives and no choice we make in this life is completely our own. The events of the evening of November 20th, 2008 were a perfect storm that amounted to the loss of a life; rivaled only in tragedy by the fact that it was completely preventable.

Do not be resolute to answer only to yourself in the times of dire need of others but, instead, choose to be a hero. Do not be content to live in the shadow of Michael's death but, instead, choose to live in the light of his life. Live in the light of the power that we all have as brothers and sisters, and the role we play in determining the fate of others. 

Michael was a baby brother and son. His family is now left with only memories of 

his short life.

Rest in Peace, Michael.

(photos taken from deseretnews.com and ksl.com. concerns or objections over use of these images can be emailed to takeproject@yahoo.com. for more information visit: www.michaelstarks.org )

{Need a Buzz Cut?}

  Impaired, or buzzed, driving can lead to DUIs, injury and death.Drunk driving can lead to DUIs, injury and death.(There is no real difference between driving "impaired" or "drunk" except semantics.)

Impairment can begin with just one drink and some people refer to this lower level of impairment as only being "buzzed". 

Unfortunately, because physical tolerance and mental tolerance of alcohol are triggered at different levels, many people do not know they are too drunk to drive even when they are.

As a person becomes more physically tolerant to alcohol, over time, they do not necessarily become more mentally tolerant to alcohol. Someone who appears to have the physical coordination to drive still may not have the mental coordination to drive. This is why it is so dangerous for people to guess the level of drunk at which they can no longer drive safely.

"If Sally can drink 4 shots in one hour and be noticeably intoxicated 

and Dave can drink the same amount and appear to be normal, you would think that Dave is not experiencing any 

effect from the alcohol. As previously stated, tolerance can be very misleading. Tolerance means that you can physically better handle the alcohol, not 

mentally.Regardless of the fact that you can walk a perfect line, or stand on one foot, your mental clarity is severely 

diminished when you drink alcohol."-Charles Owens August 13, 2008.

This is why "buzzed" driving, or driving after only a few drinks, is still so dangerous. Many experienced drinkers consider themselves "safe" drivers because they can tolerate alcohol and still walk straight and not slur their speech, but their emotional and thought processes are often still delayed. Even an experienced drinker can fail to make critical decisions correctly after only one or two drinks.

Need a buzz cut? Even if your hair isn't long, it could be time to cut the buzz.

{To Do List}

Have a lot of things on your "to do list"? Work, school, friends, family....Here are some things you have to do if your friend has been drinking a lot:

DO stay with a person who is drunk and keep them safe
DO find out how much a person has had to drink
DO find out if a drunk person has also used *drugs

DO take an intoxicated person's car keys away
DO check for the signs of ALCOHOL POISONING:

• Is the person passing out and not able to be roused?
• Is the person vomiting?
• Does the person have pale or blue-tinged skin?
• Is the person seizing?
• Is the person breathing irregularly or snoring while asleep?
• Is this person confused or very disoriented?

If the answer to any of these, or any combination of these is yes...

DO call 911 or the police. 

"He's sleeping it off. Sleeping it off doesn't sober you up. Even after a person passes out, 

blood alcohol content continues to rise. The only thing that reverses the affects of alcohol is 

time-something a person with alcohol poisoning may not have."

Here are some things to never do:

DONT leave a drunk person alone; unattended to

DONT assume a person has not had that much to drink

DONT let an intoxicated person consume more alcohol or use any drugs

DONT let a drunk person drive or walk home, especially in inclement weather 

DONT assume a drunk person is "sleeping it off" if they could be unconscious

DONT try to feed a person who is passing out, they could choke

DONT try to give a person who is passing out water or other fluids, inhalation leads to choking

DONT put a drunk person in the bath or shower, a drunk person can drown in just inches of water

DONT fail to call 911 for a person with alcohol poisoning out of fear of legal retribution.

*"drugs" can refer to any type of medication such as a prescription or illegal drug.

Poster images courtesy of: www.safecampusesnow.org

{Think for Yourself}

Most states in America try desperately to enforce a minimum, legal drinking age of 21-years-old.  Americans have varying ideas about what the minimum drinking age should be and how to handle alcohol education, especially with alcohol related injuries and deaths at an all time high. This 60 minutes clip highlights information on both sides of the argument over lowering the drinking age. It features the opinions of experts from MADD and Universities and also the Lanahans whose son, Gordie, passed away tragically from alcohol poisoning. 

Michael and Leslie Lanahan  believe a lower legal age could have allowed their son, Gordie Bailey, 

to receive medical intervention before dying of alcohol poisoning. They feel fear of retribution  prevented

 friends from calling 911 for their son. They are now the directors of an organization started in his honor. 

If you do think that a lower drinking age is appropriate, that does not mean you should break the law. Twenty-one is the law for many reasons, as explained in the clip, and needs to be respected. Binge drinking is unacceptably dangerous, especially the behavior documented in the above 60 Minutes video.

Here are some questions to consider when weighing this argument: 

Why do students and young adults under 21-years-old so often disregard alcohol laws if they  don't typically break other laws? What is the appeal of underage drinking? 

Why do you think students and young adults in organizations expect other/newer members to binge drink?

Do you think lowering the drinking age would promote safer or more dangerous drinking? What would be the safety benefits? What would be the risks?

What can you do to help your underage friends make the choice not to drink?

To read more coverage of the Amethyst Initiative, visit this link: Amethyst Initiative on CNN

{How Much is Too Much?}

In an attempt to define binge drinking, government agencies and other websites define the act of binge drinking as "consuming 4 or more alcoholic beverages in a single sitting for women, and 5 or more alcoholic beverages in a single sitting for men". There is a lot more to it than that. When trying to determine how much alcohol is too much, just 1 drink can be the difference between life and death when certain variables are taken into consideration.

When is just 1 glass of wine too much?

• Certain drugs (prescription and illegal) interact unfavorably, even lethally, with just a small amount of alcohol
  
• Blood Alcohol Content (or BAC, click on the link for more information) can have a great range depending on a drinker's height, weight, gender and prior alcohol use
  
• Encouraging or providing even ONE drink to anyone under the age of 21-years-old can land a person in jail for Providing Alcohol to a Minor (even if you are also underage)
  
• Consuming even ONE alcoholic beverage (anything from a wine cooler to everclear) can lead to arrest and jail time for anyone under 21-years-old

{A Mere Snapshot}

This could be a page out of any yearbook. 

The faces of young men and women with very promising futures; who, at one point, could have been voted "Most Likely to Succeed". Athletes, intellectuals, artists and class clowns who were adored by their friends and family. They will be forever loved and missed by those closest to them. 

A representation of tragedy. 

During the 2008-2009 school year more than an estimated 1,000 young lives were claimed by alcohol induced poisoning and injury. 

  

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Mun Scotty Roberts

    

Shelby Lyn Allen Dylan Lyford

     

Joey "JLo" Loudon Warren Kimber

    

Arman Partamian Jason Wren

Returning to high school and college can be exciting, challenging and come with a different set of goals, but new pressures shouldn't become fatal. Don't let the anxieties of trying to fit-in or impress others lead to binge drinking or reckless behavior. The "it can't happen to me" attitude seems to pale when someone considers that the pictures above represent less than 1/100 of the number of students who lost their lives during the 2008-2009 school year. Don't let it happen to you. Don't let it happen to a friend or someone you love. 

Don't let it happen.

{TAKE Fast Fact}

Even something seemingly normal, like snoring, can be someone's last gasp when it comes to alcohol poisoning. Don't ignore this cry for help, TAKE notice; save a life:

"When people are very drunk, or drugged, 'snoring' is actually not real snoring, 

Heath Ledger's final breaths were obstructed, which caused him to "snore". Had someone recognized this as a symptom of an overdose, and called 911 his young life may have been saved. Alcohol and other suppressants can begin to close the airways in the final stages of a fatal overdose.

but often a form of partial airway obstruction. A very alarming, particular type of snoring is when a person snores both on the inhale and the exhale - that's called stridor and it is an absolute indication that someone needs to call 911."-Doc Gurley, San Francisco Chronicle. "City Brights". May 25, 2009.

{You have what it TAKES}

What attributes are necessary to becoming a hero?

Is it powers that far surpass normal human strength and ability?

Or is it something more quiet that is hidden within each of us?

This Blog will equip you with the knowledge necessary to become a hero. The Knowledge necessary to have an open dialogue about alcohol use and abuse. The knowledge necessary to know how to ask for help. Perhaps the knowledge that you need to save a life.

Maybe it won't happen today; hopefully it won't ever happen.

But just by acquiring this information you are gaining powers beyond flight or muscles, invisibility or super human strength.

TAKE notice:

Notice and follow the laws and rules regarding alcohol.

Learn and Notice the signs of alcohol poisoning.

Notice how alcohol is affecting you and your body

Notice how alcohol is affecting others; TAKE action if necessary.

TAKE action:

Act by calling 9-1-1 if someone is showing signs of alcohol poisoning.

Act by not driving drunk or allowing others to drive drunk.

Recommend help for others who may be abusing alcohol.

Find help if you are abusing alcohol.

Act like a friend and TAKE a stand.

TAKE a stand:

Stand up for your friends; don't let them be pressured into drinking.

Stand for change; don't pressure others to drink.

Stand up for yourself and vow to not binge drink.

Stand for something bigger than yourself...

be a real hero, don't let alcohol TAKE another life.