Several dozen high school and college students sat silent, some dabbing away tears, Thursday morning in Vincennes University's Shircliff Auditorium as they watched video from a college freshman's funeral in Carmel three years ago.
Brett Finbloom was just days away from starting his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma when he died following a night of binge drinking with friends.
“Brett was that somebody else,” his mother, Dawn Finbloom, told the audience of stunned students. “He was the somebody else you think you're never going to be.
“Just three weeks before he died, my son Tweeted, 'I can't help but to wonder about my fate, my destiny,'” she said. “I'm sure many of you wonder the same thing. And today, we're going to make sure those futures are bright.”
Since her son's death Finbloom has been traveling the state with State Sen. Jim Merritt, R-Indianapolis, telling Brett's story and helping to educate students about the Indiana Lifeline Law, a legislation passed in 2011 and backed by Merritt that protects underage drinkers who call 911 — and anyone else who offers assistance — to help a friend who has had too much to drink.
Six people die every day, Finbloom said, from simply drinking too much, too fast, and many of them are either in high school or college.
At least two of Brett's friends called 911 as he lay passed out on a couch, already beginning to turn blue, Finbloom said, but it was too late to save his life. She encouraged others not to wait if they see someone in trouble.
Every second, she reminded them, counts.
“We are so fortunate to have this law,” she said. “Indiana is one of the first states to have it. So don't play doctor. Don't let them sleep it off.
“Value life above all else. Saving a life is always the most important thing.”
“You think of running to save yourself, it's selfish, but many of us have that mindset,” Merritt said. “You think your life, your career, could be altered because of what someone else did, but this law should give you courage.
“We don't want you to make mistakes, but if someone does, don't let it be their last mistake.”
Finbloom also offered information to students on serving portions when it comes to different types of alcohol, the time it takes to take effect and even the signs that someone could be suffering from alcohol poisoning, like turning blue, excessive vomiting or losing consciousness.
She spoke on the long-term and short-term negative effects of binge drinking, suggested applications young people can download to their smartphones to help them better understand how their bodies process alcohol and even offered help in how they can say resist peer pressure to drink.
“I call alcohol a 'sneaky' drug,” she said, “because so many don't believe it can kill them. But it can.
“So, please, remember these three words: Call. Stay. Cooperate.
“This law offers amnesty from prosecution for underage drinking and related offenses to the person who calls to report a medical emergency and for those assisting the caller,” Finbloom said. “The purpose of the law is not to encourage underage drinking but to protect Hoosiers and, hopefully, save lives.”
It was at least the fifth time Allison Stoup, a sophomore at Vincennes University and a resident assistant at Clark Hall, had heard Finbloom's story. And each time, she said, it hits home.
“It's just so important,” she said. “I have a lot of friends who drink, so this is beneficial for them to see. Dawn does such a good job in sharing her story.
“We have information about the law on a big bulletin board in Clark Hall. But sometimes I think the kids think it's a joke. I really don't know what they would do in that situation.”
“It's easy when you're having a really great time not to realize that you might be making a really bad choice,” said Haylee Leads, a junior at VU. “But I think you have to make a decision at the beginning of the night to make good decisions throughout. It's an important message to hear.”
And Lynn Rump, president and CEO of Child and Family Services, as she sat quietly in the back row, could only hope that the kids were paying attention.
“The Lifeline Law has no impact unless people know about it,” she said. “They will be afraid to call. It's basic self-preservation, something we all feel, unless they know they are protected. The message is clear and appropriate. If you have a friend in trouble, step up and get them the help they need.”