Students trained for alcohol emergencies
A few University of Iowa students groaned at the sight of a college-age student on Tuesday night: his skin turned blue, face down in his puke, dead from alcohol poisoning.
Though the image was only a still photograph contained in a documentary about a 2004 incident — a fraternity hazing at the University of Colorado — some UI students are taking steps to ensure they’re prepared if they ever face a similar situation.
On Tuesday, roughly 25 UI students gathered in the IMU for Red Watch Band alcohol emergency training, a program that teaches CPR techniques and educates participants on how to help a peer at risk of overdosing.
This is the first year the UI has hosted the national program, which officials launched in October.
Becca Don, a UI graduate assistant and health educator with Health Iowa, heard about the program and decided it would be appropriate to implement on campus.
“Iowa, as you may be aware, has a drinking problem,” she said Tuesday night, noting that officials have trained more than 150 UI students.
The Red Watch Band originated in March 2009 after a Stony Brook University faculty member’s son died from an acute alcohol overdose. That university’s resulting educational program was eventually disseminated to college campuses across the country.
Upon completion of the program, students receive a commemorative red watch, symbolizing the “band” of students trained to look after one another in an alcohol emergency when time is critical.
Lara Hunter, the National Red Watch Band program coordinator, said around 1,400 watches have been distributed to date.
Health Iowa coordinator Tanya Villhauer said she’s encouraged by the program.
“It empowers our students to look out for their friends,” she said. “They are becoming much more aware of the medical issues surrounding excessive alcohol use.”
Officials at the UI have expressed concern about binge drinking among students, pointing to increases in the average range of blood-alcohol concentrations for students referred to Health Iowa for alcohol-related violations.
From 2008-09, Health Iowa recorded more than 600 instances of student intervention or education for alcohol use, though Villhauer noted a single student may account for more than one instance.
Dave Dvorsky, assistant director with Johnson County Ambulance Services, said CPR training is an excellent skill to have in an alcohol emergency while waiting for emergency responders.
“One of the things they can do, if possible, is position people on their sides to where their airways can stay open in case they vomit,” Dvorsky said.
Of the more than 7,000 calls to the ambulance service in 2009, around 1,000 were alcohol-related. However, Dvorsky noted alcohol was only a contributing factor in some of those calls.
UI sophomore Lance Platt said a previous alcohol emergency convinced him to take the training.
“I found one of my friends passed out in the bathroom last semester,” he said.
While the friend was responsive and did not require medical attention, Platt said, getting training for the future would help him react appropriately in the event of a more severe incident.
“I think I feel a little more comfortable now after taking this course,” he said.
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