There is such a thing as too much caffeine, and it can be deadly. A 16-year-old high school student from South Carolina collapsed during class last month. According to Richland County Coroner Gary Watts, Davis Allen Cripe died from a caffeine-induced cardiac event causing a probable arrhythmia.
The teenager consumed three drinks containing high amounts of caffeine in a period of just two hours. He drank a cafe latte, a large Diet Mountain Dew and an energy drink before collapsing in his classroom at Spring Hill School. The amount of caffeine in his system caused an arrhythmia. His heart was not able to pump enough blood to his body, which affected his brain, heart and other organs.
The teen’s father, Sean Cripe attended a news conference on Monday. He said, “Like all parents, we worry about our kids as they grow up. We worry about their safety, their health, especially once they start driving. But it wasn’t a car crash that took his life. Instead, it was an energy drink.”
Davis purchased the latte at McDonald’s around 12:30 pm. He then consumed a Diet Mountain Dew and an energy drink. He collapsed at the school just before 2:30 pm, and was pronounced dead at 3:40 pm. The autopsy showed that the teen was healthy and had no underlying conditions that could have been triggered by the caffeine intake. No other drugs or alcohol were found in his system.
Coroner Gary Watts said, “This was not an overdose. We lost Davis from a totally legal substance. Our purpose here today is to let people know, especially our young kids in school, that these drinks can be dangerous, and be very careful with how you use them, and how many you drink on a daily basis.”
Sean Cripe urges parents to talk to their kids about the potential dangers of energy drinks and other caffeinated beverages. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, adolescens ages 12 to 18 should not consume more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, and children should never consume energy drinks.
A 2014 study found that about 73% of children consume some kind of caffeine each day. While caffeine can improve mood and alertness, it can also be habit forming. Too much caffeine can cause shaky hands, upset stomach, high blood pressure, seizures and even coma in severe cases.
Watch the video below for more information:
Sources:
CNN
National Capital Poison Center
Pediatrics
American Academy of Pediatrics
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