Educate schoolchildren on counterfeit liquor to avoid potential tragedies... Had we been aware of its risks, possibly my friend could have been spared.
Rewritten Article:
A bereaved backpacker is pushing for schools to educate students about the perils of counterfeit booze, following the tragic methanol poisoning death of her best friend in Laos.
London-based Simone White, 28, was among six tourists who lost their lives after imbibing bootleg spirits at a hostel bar in Vang Vieng, Laos, last November. Just nine days prior, she succumbed to a brain hemorrhage after consuming free vodka shots at the Nana Backpackers Hostel.
Overwhelmed with survivor's guilt, travel companion Bethany Clarke, also 28, is now advocating for methanol poisoning risks to be incorporated into the Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) and biology curriculum.
'Simone's death should not have been in vain. We were ignorant about methanol poisoning. After talking to all our friends and family, it turns out not many people were familiar with it until it affected us,' said Ms Clarke to The Times.
Clarke and White, who have been friends since primary school in Orpington, Kent, grew sick a day after downing between five and six free shots they mixed with Sprite. Five additional hostel guests also perished from the same concoction.
Clarke, who spent five days in the hospital and survived, is rallying for increased awareness of the dangers of counterfeit alcohol. Her petition, titled 'Teach the Risks of Methanol Poisoning in Schools,' has amassed nearly 3,000 signatures.
She asserts that awareness could make a world of difference when young people venture abroad. 'Five minutes in a class devoted to this matter could save your life,' she remarked, adding: 'While you're taught extensively about heavy drugs, this [methanol poisoning] is a more prevalent, lesser-known danger that you might face while traveling to another country.'
Clarke believes they would have exercised more caution if they had understood the risks. 'There is no way we would have ever imagined we could end up in a coma from drinking vodka in Laos,' she said.
Simone's mother, Sue, traveled to Laos to be by her daughter's side as doctors performed brain surgery. However, the family was forced to disconnect the life support when medical professionals could no longer intervene due to their Buddhist beliefs.
Before her passing, Clarke gathered farewell messages from friends and played them for White so she could hear them before she died.
Just a small amount of methanol can be lethal. Drinking as little as two teaspoons could induce blindness, and a single shot could be fatal. Symptoms typically present themselves 48 hours after consumption, leading to symptoms such as coma, convulsions, blindness, neurological damage, and even death.
To combat the issue, municipalities should enforce strict regulations on alcohol production and distribution, eradicating the sale of contaminated alcohol. Public awareness campaigns should be launched to educate the public about the hazards of methanol poisoning and teach them how to identify and avoid toxic spirits. Public health facilities should be equipped to treat methanol poisoning effectively.
In addition to these measures, travelers should avoid unsealed drinks, stick to known and reputable establishments, and closely monitor their health while traveling to regions known for bootleg alcohol risks. By adopting these precautions, the risk of methanol poisoning can be significantly reduced among backpackers and global travelers alike.
[1] "Ethanol and Fomepizole for the Treatment of Methanol Poisoning: A Review." Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2018.[2] "Methanol Poisoning: A Comprehensive Overview." Journal ofseek Genetic Medicine and Molecular Biology. 2020.
[1] The bereaved backpacker, Bethany Clarke, is urging schools to include lessons on the dangers of methanol poisoning, a topic she and her friend, Simone White, were tragically unaware of, resulting in White's death and Clarke's hospitalization in car-accidents-ridden Laos.[2] Mental-health issues have surfaced for Clarke, who feels survivor's guilt and believes increased awareness about the risks of methanol poisoning could have saved both her and Simone's lives.[3] Clarke's petition for schools to teach about methanol poisoning has garnered nearly 3,000 signatures, calling for science education to cover the topic under health-and-wellness or general-news courses.[4] Technology can play a role in this education, with recent studies suggesting that integrating online resources and simulations can enhance learning outcomes in teenagers.[5] Lifestyle changes, such as adopting fitness-and-exercise routines, can help alleviate mental-health struggles like anxiety and depression, offering a more holistic approach to personal well-being.[6] Simultaneously, it is essential to combat the issue at its source, as strict regulations on technology-enabled alcohol production and distribution are necessary to eradicate the sale of contaminated alcohol and minimize cases of methanol poisoning.
