PRINTER'S NO. 2938
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
661
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY VAZQUEZ, SCHWEYER, SCHLOSSBERG, READSHAW, JAMES,
KINSEY, MILLARD, DAVIS, NEILSON, BOBACK, DiGIROLAMO, WARREN,
HILL-EVANS, J. McNEILL, MURT AND DONATUCCI, JANUARY 25, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, JANUARY 25, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing The CTC Wellness Foundation for forming Don't Stall,
Just Call, an alcohol poisoning education program, which
raises student and family awareness of the dangers of binge
drinking and informs them of this Commonwealth's medical
amnesty law.
WHEREAS, The CTC Wellness Foundation formed and promotes the
Don't Stall, Just Call program, which educates students of all
ages and their families regarding the effects of alcohol on the
body, the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning, the need to
seek immediate medical intervention when necessary and
Pennsylvania's medical amnesty law; and
WHEREAS, The Don't Stall, Just Call program was created by
the mother of a student at Temple University whose tragic,
untimely death in 2015 resulted from excessive drinking; and
WHEREAS, Commonly referred to as "binge" drinking, the
excessive consumption of alcohol is a serious problem on college
campuses across the country, as the National Institute on
Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) reports that approximately 1,825 college students
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
between 18 and 24 years of age die each year from alcohol-
related injuries; and
WHEREAS, According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use
and Health, nearly 60% of college students 18 to 22 years of age
drank alcohol within the past month, and nearly two out of three
college students engaged in binge drinking during that same time
frame; and
WHEREAS, NIH defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking
that brings blood alcohol concentration levels to 0.08 g/dL,
which typically occurs in approximately two hours when either a
woman has consumed four drinks or a man has consumed five
drinks; and
WHEREAS, Binge drinking can lead to serious health
consequences, including alcohol poisoning, which can lead to
permanent brain damage or death; and
WHEREAS, The signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include
mental confusion, slow or irregular breathing, hypothermia or
low body temperature, bluish or pale skin, stupor, vomiting and
unresponsiveness; and
WHEREAS, NIH reports that thousands of college students are
transported to the emergency room each year for alcohol
poisoning, which occurs when high levels of alcohol suppress the
nervous and respiratory systems and the body struggles to rid
itself of toxins produced from the breakdown of alcohol; and
WHEREAS, College students who are binge drinking often suffer
and may possibly die because their peers fear the potential
consequences of calling for emergency medical assistance; and
WHEREAS, Senseless deaths can be prevented when students
recognize the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning and choose
to make the call; and
20180HR0661PN2938 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has a medical amnesty law that provides
immunity from punishment for a person who calls either 911,
campus security, police or an emergency officer for emergency
assistance to report that an underage drinker is in need of
immediate medical attention to prevent serious injury or perhaps
death; and
WHEREAS, The Don't Stall, Just Call program mission includes
educating students about the signs and symptoms of alcohol
poisoning and offering resources and recommendations on how to
properly handle excessive drinking incidents; and
WHEREAS, The Don't Stall, Just Call program serves to educate
students regarding their protection under this Commonwealth's
medical amnesty law when they call for emergency assistance; and
WHEREAS, The Don't Stall, Just Call program has helped to
save lives, as the program's alcohol awareness presentations
have reached thousands of people, including those from
universities, high schools, private businesses and church
groups; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize The CTC
Wellness Foundation for its invaluable work in raising student
and family awareness through the Don't Stall, Just Call alcohol
poisoning education program regarding the dangers of binge
drinking, as well as informing them of this Commonwealth's
medical amnesty law.
20180HR0661PN2938 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24