By Wes Woods II
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Copyright 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
CLAREMONT, Calif. — Paramedics responded to seven cases of what police are calling possible alcohol poisoning at college campus Halloween parties over the weekend.
Five of the seven people believed to be students were found passed out in a college parking lot when Claremont police responded to five medical emergency calls, said Claremont police Lt. Paul Davenport.
“This is certainly an unusual number of alcohol poisoning calls in one night,” Davenport said. He said on weekends the department usually gets one alcohol poisoning call from the five college campuses that call the city home.
Police and school officials disagree on whether every incident was alcohol-related and how serious the use of alcohol is among students, despite the weekend’s incidents.
Alcohol poisoning is a serious — sometimes fatal — result of consuming too much alcohol. When too much alcohol is absorbed, it can directly impact the central nervous system and slow breathing, heart rate and the gag reflex, according to the Mayo Clinic’s Web site. This can lead to choking, coma and even death.
Binge drinking is a common cause of alcohol poisoning. Poisoning can also occur by drinking household products that contain other types of alcohol.
The first call to police was at 11:15 p.m. Saturday and the last call occurred at 12:45 a.m. Sunday.
Here’s a rundown on the calls:
The first call was at 11:15 p.m. Saturday at 988 Pitzer Service Road. Paramedics called for an intoxicated female student who bled profusely after she put her leg through a glass window.
Jim Marchant, dean of students and vice president for student affairs at Pitzer College, said that incident was not alcohol-related.
“It’s fair to say in some instances when paramedics respond for medical reasons it seems an assumption made of alcohol or drugs are made and it’s not,” Marchant said.
The second call was for a man with alcohol poisoning at 11:22 p.m. at 173 E. Second St. at Pomona College’s Lyon Court Dorm.
About 20 minutes later, a call was received regarding three people with alcohol poisoning in the parking lot at 757 College Way.
At the scene, five people were found passed out, police said. All were transported to the hospital. Police said they believed they were students from a nearby college.
Paramedics responded again around midnight for alcohol poisoning at Pitzer Hall North at 1050 Pitzer Service Road.
A call for an intoxicated person was received at 11:15 p.m. Saturday at the corner of College and Seventh, but police were not able to reach the scene until 12:45 a.m. Sunday because they were busy with the other calls. A man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in public.
“Most of these are college sponsored or sanctioned parties on campus,” said Claremont police Lt. Dennis Smith.
Mark Wood, senior director of communications for Pomona College, said Harwood Halloween is a large party held on the Pomona College campus with hundreds of students, but he said those attendees were not involved in the incidents.
There is a safe room set up near the party where a dean, medical doctor and emergency medical personnel are available for students.
“Students were to be brought there to be evaluated - they basically always error on the side of caution,” Wood said. “I could not get any confirmation of alcohol poisonings. I know some students were transferred, but I don’t have a number.”
The colleges’ spokesmen contend school officials are concerned about binge and underage drinking and educate students on the dangers of drinking and provide alternatives — including movies, lectures and events.
Marchant said students at all the Claremont colleges are “bright,” but peer pressure and social norms can influence their choices.