Many Americans think nothing of having a few cups of coffee every morning. After all, they need the caffeine to get through the day. However, many teens are consuming caffeine in copious amounts. Even some children as young as six years old are consuming energy drinks on a regular basis. And while caffeine doesn't affect adults as much, this powerful drug is extremely harmful to growing children if consumed in large amounts. In fact, an Ohio teen died after ingesting powdered caffeine so he could stay up late. His family has filed a wrongful death suit against the manufacturer.
The 18-year-old boy was just five days away from graduating high school in 2014 when he took the caffeine that his friend purchased on the Internet. When the boy died of a caffeine overdose, an autopsy showed that his body contained 23 times the amount of caffeine that would typically be found in the body of a coffee or soda drinker. His parents have filed a lawsuit, but the manufacturer asked to dismiss the case. No resolution has been reached yet.
Caffeine overdose can happen to anyone, even those not taking the drug in powder form. The general rule is that poisoning can occur when the body receives a certain number of milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight. For teens, this amounts to about 100 milligrams per day and about 400 milligrams per day for adults. For children, the danger zone is as low as 15 milligrams. Caffeine can be found not only in coffee, tea and sodas but also countless energy drinks and tablets. After drinking combinations of these products, children can expect to experience an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Seizures may even occur in some cases.
The unexpected loss of a loved one can be devastating for a family. In order for the family to win their case, they will often need to prove that the company failed to warn consumers of the risks involved with consuming the caffeine. If the company's negligence can be proven, the family may be able to receive compensation for damages associated with the sudden and shocking loss of their child.
Source: WTSP, "Caffeine overexposure dangerous for children," July 13, 2015
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