Alcohol poisoning!

 It's back to college season, for some of you, it might be the first child drop off. It means a lot of alcohol will be consumed whether you, as a parent, like it or not, want it or not. 

Even if we, as parents, choose not to drink and believe we are setting a good example, this does not guarantee that our children will follow us. Alcohol poisoning is very real and dangerous, happens more often than you think. It can affect anyone, any age group regardless of their background or family environment. Recently, someone we know and love almost lost their life due to alcohol poisoning.

In this recent incident, the said child did not even drink a high amount of alcohol, but they were unaware of how their body would react. Ironically, while this child had a drink to fit in with the friends, it was these same friends who recognized the signs of alcohol poisoning and averted the tragedy. They called the parents immediately. The quick action on their part saved the child's life, but not all stories have a happy ending. It gives me chills just thinking about that night, every parent’s worst nightmare.

I grew up in a community where drinking is a cultural norm. My siblings and I do not drink, chose not to. Growing up, we saw our mom clean up a lot of vomit, vomits of strangers. The picture of that vomit is permanently scarred on my brain. It was disgusting. Drinking never fascinated me. Lucky for me, I married someone who has never had a drink in his life, and hence our household is alcohol free.

But that doesn't mean a thing. Your child may not even be a drinker but the temptations of peer pressure, the need to fit in, to look cool are some of the things that can break even the most well-behaved child. Not everyone has a strong will. Growing up, you may be the only one they had to look up to who did not drink. Now, they are in the world of their peers where most of them, if not all of them, drink. It is difficult for them to hold on. It is quite easy to succumb to peer pressure.

In the case of this child, the lack of "the talk" left them unaware of how alcohol could affect their body, leading to a near-fatal experience. The parents helplessly watched their child for an entire night, in a vulnerable state, going in and out of consciousness until the alcohol wore off, making sure they did not choke on their vomit, keeping them warm. 

This post is to encourage all of you to have that talk. Have an honest conversation. Talk to them about the ill effects of alcohol consumption, the signs of alcohol poisoning which include confusion, vomiting and sometimes unconsciousness. It can also lead to death. Tell them to have a safety plan, a designated driver.

You could encourage them to make smart choices but remember, sometimes things do not go as planned. In the end, all you can do is pray, pray for their safety, and do not forget to let them know that no matter what kind of situation they are in, they can call you for help. Reassure them. I would rather them call me than leave it to fate. All the yelling and screaming can happen afterwards.

Just because you are kids are grown, doesn’t mean you stop worrying. and never say NEVER. 

Your child might want to do all the things you did not or do not. It is better to have that talk. If your child is headed to college or out in the world , please please have the talk.

Let us not leave safety to a chance, and assumption. Just because you do not, does not mean they will not. Let us make sure that this is indeed a celebration and does not end in a tragedy.

Images copied from Google.