An emergency medicine specialist has said two teenagers had the potential to die at a teenage disco in West Cork due to extreme alcohol intoxication.
Jason van der Velde, a pre-hospital emergency medicine specialist went to the scene at Bandon Rugby Club last weekend, assessed the condition of the students and decided to set up a field hospital to treat the teenagers, many who were aged around 16.
Dr van der Velde told RTÉ’s Today with Sean O'Rourke programme that he was not exaggerating when he said that two of the children had the potential to die at scene due to excessively high blood pressure and difficulty breathing.
He described it as a "vomatorium" and said the children were "paralytically, unconsciously drunk".
Two teenagers were sent by ambulance to CUH where they needed overnight care and treatment.
Dr van der Velde said Bandon Rugby Club had run the event very well and praised its efforts to assist those trying to help around a dozen or so very drunk teenagers.
He said some unconscious teenagers had 'naggins' of vodkas in their socks.
Dr van der Velde said it was clearly excessive alcohol consumption rather than drink spiking that was responsible.
He said that there is a need outlets for teenagers to express and enjoy themselves and hundreds of kids got home safely from the disco, but a dozen kids let the side down.
The matter was first reported in The Southern Star newspaper.
Dr Chris Luke, a consultant in emergency medicine at CUHm praised the efforts of Dr van der Velde in keeping many of the teenagers from attending a packed-out emergency department at CUH.
He also thanked those who assisted at the scene.
Dr Luke said parents need to know the risks teenagers take with alcohol and should not blame treating physicians for the outcomes that result from excessive consumption.
