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The news of his death came days before USC students met to discuss how to improve campus safety policies in a Town Hall event organized by the school's Undergraduate Student Government.

In light of Kyaw's passing, as well as multiple alcohol-related incidents over the academic year, the following is an overview of alcohol poisoning and symptoms that college students can take note of for future reference.

It is worth noting, however, that accidents do happen, even to students who consciously practice responsible drinking. There have been cases, for example, where unknown substances were found in drinks.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning to look out for:

1. Mental confusion: After consuming an increased amount of alcohol,  individuals could suffer from mental confusion, which could cause someone to go in and out of consciousness and/or a stupor.
2. Vomiting: Although college students have somewhat normalized the idea of vomiting when drunk, it is recognized as one of the top signs of alcohol poisoning and should be monitored closely.
3. Breathing: As an individual's body reacts to the alcohol in their system, the pace of breathing could shift and slow down. According to The College Drinking Prevention website, 8 breaths per minute is suggested as irregular and 10 second pauses between breaths.
4. Seizures and Hypothermia: In certain cases, people with alcohol poisoning will suffer from seizures and a lower body temperature accompanied by paleness.

Although many of these signs are identifiable, it is suggested that it is safer to contact 911 emergency services than wait for them to go away. Aside from calling student medical agents or 911, students should focus their time on preventing alchohol poisoning amongst their peers by looking out for one another.  

Here are a few ways to prevent alcohol poisoning and still have a good time:

1. Drink in moderation, if at all: Although the number one way to prevent alcohol poisoning is to not drink, there are ways to monitor the amount of alcohol you consume. If you take time in between drinks instead of practicing what many refer to as "binge drinking," this could limit the level of intoxication. 
2. Drink lots of water: One of the key ways of preventing how your body reacts to liquor is to not only abstain from consuming liquor, but to eat before you go out to drink with your family or friends. This way, you will not only have a stomach of food, but also water throughout the night to balance your intake of alcohol.
3. Watch your alcohol intake:  There are various kinds of alcohol which come with different levels of strength. Take notice of whether you are consuming a beverage with a high alcohol content such as vodka, tequila, rum and brandy. These forms of liquor, which are usually 80 proof, can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and leave liquor in the system longer. However, others like beer and wine have a lower level of alcohol content which can lower the risk of poisioning when in moderation.! 
4. Peer Pressure/Games: One of the best parts about being college students are the unforgettable memories with your fellow peers. In order to keep these safe and responsible it is important to remain aware of the games we play that can increase alcohol intake. Monitor your friends intake during beer bong, keg drinking and any other activites. Take note if their behavior starts to change and offer them water, food or a spot to sit out the game. 
5. Supervision/Designating a driver: As we've heard time and time again it's always important to bring a friend along who won't be drinking and/or who will monitor alcohol intake and make sure everyone gets home safe.

All of these tips are measures you can take to stay safe and drink responsibly. If you want to know more about alcohol poisoning, take a look at the following clip from The Doctors on symptoms and effects. Also, review the links in this article for more information. 

Reach Managing Editor Jacqueline Jackson here; follow her on Twitter here.