Parents whose son died encourage youth to use Lifeline law - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Parents whose son died because he drank too much alcohol have an emotional message to share with underage drinkers in Indiana.

They say their son might have survived if other teens would not have been afraid to call for help.

A month before 18-year-old Brett Finbloom died of alcohol poisoning, a law went on the books that could have gotten the teen the help he needed in time to save his life.

"I cannot feel a pulse right now so I'm really freaking out right now, so I would like someone to come out here immediately." That's the 911 call that came too late for Finbloom last August after the teen drank too much at a party with other teens in Carmel.

Brett's parents Norm and Dawn Finbloom have spent the past six months alerting teens across the state about the new "Lifeline Law." It was passed in the Statehouse last July.

"I'm sure Brett felt alcohol poisoning could never happen to him," Brett's father told a crowd in Columbus on Monday. "After all, he was very smart and very strong."

The law was designed to protect underage drinkers from criminal consequences if a friend needs medical attention from drinking too much.

"If you are underage and you're drinking and you have a friend who has a medical emergency, if you call and you stay and you cooperate, then you'll have amnesty," explained Dawn Finbloom. "You will not be charged with a crime for underage drinking."

The Finblooms joined one of their Brett's friends for Monday's presentation.

"Saving peoples lives is as easy as making a call," explained Brett's friend, Mitch Tabler. "Making a call. Getting help and staying there with the person. It's as easy as that."

Tabler decided to spread the word about Lifeline as part of his senior class project.

"We're here to support Mitch's message to get the word out," Norm Finbloom told the crowd. "After all, your friend's life always comes first,"

"If you think your friend has a problem, they have a problem," Dawn Finbloom reminded the crowd. "Don't try to play doctor. Don't try to delay making the call. Just make the call."

The Finblooms said their efforts are paying off. They said they heard from two parents whose daughter drank too much at a party in January. According to the Finbloom's, the parents told them their daughter's friend remembered Brett Finbloom's story and the Lifeline Law, so the friend called 911 and saved the young woman's life.