Moderator Hank Nuwer: The take-away from the filibustering by reluctant members addressing an alcohol-related emergency in the house is clear. While I obviously would prefer every house be (or remain) dry as the safest policy available, the only other wise alternative is to ask all Greek houses to put together an emergency management plan.
Officers and advisers must run an occasional drill in the event (hopefully, unlikely) a worse-case situation should occur. Just the way we all practiced fire drills in grade school, Greek houses should now run a serious, no-nonsense practice scenario simulating conditions as if a member were in trouble due to illness or an alcohol or drug overdose. Here is a workable plan.
- Say, for example, during a party, a guest or pledge falls unconscious. One member quickly must simulate calling 911. Simultaneously, sober members need to get intoxicated members into their rooms away from the crisis. Leaving impaired members/pledges there can cause arguments, a fight, and even a threat to the safety of trained rescuers.
- Other members search the house to see if a second pledge, member or visitor (or more) may be in similar danger. Rescuers should pretend one is found unconscious. Again, a rescuer simulates a call to 911. The next step is to station members outside the house or apartment house who can direct rescuers to the crisis spot,
- During the drill, all should practice recognition of the signs that a friend is in trouble. He or she is snoring. Face color may be grey or bluish.
- To act in an emergency, members must learn to drill before an emergency actually happens.
- Remember. A delay of even a few seconds can be fatal. Tim Piazza’s PSU chapter delayed 12 hours before club members call 911.
- Encourage other fraternity and sorority houses to perform similar drills.
- Consider inviting a trained professional who can conduct a simulated drill for a drug or alcohol overdose. Regards and be safe and protect one another, Hank Nuwer
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