In real life Shelby Allen didn’t survive the drinking game.

Shelby’s Rules.com website was set up to tell her story:

On December 20th 2008 17 year old Shelby Lyn Allen died at a friend’s home of alcohol poisoning. You would have liked her, she was fun, lively, silly and wise beyond her years, but what she didn’t know killed her.

She and her friends were ignorant of the fact that approximately 8 ounces of hard liquor (the size of a small juice glass) consumed in under 2 hours can be lethal.

Shelby’s Rules Foundation

The Shelby’s Rules – Alcohol Poisoning Education Foundation was founded by her mother Debbie to raise awareness about Alcohol Poisoning:

I founded the Shelby Lyn Allen Alcohol Poisoning Education Fund after my 17 year-old daughter, an 11th grade student at Foothill High School in Palo Cedro, California died of acute alcohol poisoning. On the first night of Christmas break 2008, my daughter and her friends began drinking at a nearby home. It is unclear what happened, but we are told Shelby became violently ill and was semi-conscious when her friends left her propped up over the toilet. When she was discovered the next morning, she could not be revived.

I have vowed to do whatever I can to educate teens, young adults and parents to the dangers of alcohol poisoning. I want all of them to know that immediate medical intervention can save lives. It is my deepest desire that no other families or friends will have to endure the pain of loss that we experience every day of our lives.

Shelby’s Rules
The rules that the foundation has come up with

• “Secrets Kill”

• Alcohol + Vomiting = 911

They are also working on getting out the word about the Warning signs of Alcohol Poisoning:

Warning signs of alcohol poisoning:

* Vomiting
* Person cannot be roused
* Semi-Concious or Unconcious

If you see someone with one or more of these symptoms, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.
Waiting can result in brain damage, coma or death.

Don’t be afraid to call, every second counts.

It is a very sad legacy to have left behind for one’s parents. I talked to my daughters (9 and 7) about Shelby’s story and told them about the possible deadly effects of drinking too much Alcohol this morning. I hope it registered with them.

Image: Nico Van Der Merwe. Shot Glass 02.  Royalty Free Use.

I discovered one of my poems, “A Message from an Angel Above,” was being used as a tribute on a Memorial Page set up for a college student, Sam Spady, who died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004.

You can learn more about Sam Spady by watching the Video clips below:

Death By Alcohol: The Sam Spady Story

In June 12, 2006 Sam’s Parents Rick & Patty Spady and film producer Barry Bortnick appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America to discuss binge drinking and the new DVD on Sam’s death.

You can watch the interview with co-anchor Charles Gibson here.

More about the Sam Spady Foundation
The mission of the Sam Spady Foundation is to educate all parents and students on the dangers of alcohol, specifically high risk consumption, and the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

In addition to making public appearances and having a DVD available on Sam’s unfortunate story, the Sam Spady Foundation also makes SAM Wallet Cards available for students. The foundation advocates that this is the one card that every student needs.

The back of the card has good reminders of what to do in case of suspected Alcohol Poisoning.

You may order up to 10 cards at no charge by sending an email to walletcards@samspadyfoundation.org with your name, shipping address and how you will be using the cards.

More on the Affects of Alcohol

A related post from November 2008 looks at a reporter who is Reporting on Driving Under the Influence.