>> AS WE HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL, MANY KIDS FEEL THE PRESSURE TO STAY ALERT. >> CAFFEINE IS USED TO HELP PEOPLE WAKE UP, BUT IT CAN BE TOXIC. >> A BOY IN SOUTH CAROLINA DIED FROM TOO MUCH CAFFEINE IN TOO SHORT OF A TIME CAFFEINE SEEMS HARMLESS, BUT A PEDIATRIC WANTS TO WARN YOU ABOUT ALLOWING YOUR CHILD TO DRINK ENERGY DRINKS, COFFEE AND SODA. A MOURNING FATHER WENT PUBLIC ABOUT HIS SON'S DEATH HOPING IT WOULD SAVE ANOTHER PARENT FROM THE SAME FATE. >> IT WAS AN ENERGY DRINK THAT TOOK HIS LIFE.
>> WHEN THE BOY DIED LAST WEEK, IT WAS A MYSTERY HOW A HEALTHY TEEN COULD HAVE A HEART ATTACK, BUT AFTER EXAMINING HIS BEHAVIOR IN THE LAST TWO HOURS BEFORE HIS DEATH, THE CORONER DETERMINED HE HAD CONSUMED A LARGE DIET MOUNTAIN DEW, A CAFE LATTE FROM McDONALD'S AND SOME TYPE OF ENERGY DRINK. >> NOW WITH ENERGY DRINKS, KIDS ARE STARTING TO GET MORE CAFFEINE FROM THOSE. >> DR. ADELE FROM TEXAS CHILDREN'S SUPPORTS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC STANCE ON ENERGY DRINKS, RECOMMENDING NO KIDS EVER CONSUME THEM. >> THEY HAVE OTHER INGREDIENTS IN THEM THAT AUGMENT THE EFFECTS OF THE CAFFEINE. >> Reporter: WHICH IS DANGEROUS AND THE LIMIT FOR CHILDREN IS FAR LOWER THAN ADULTS. >> I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A BROKENHEARTED FATHER AND HOPE THAT SOMETHING GOOD CAN COME FROM THIS.
>> Reporter: DR. READER SAYS THE LESSON THAT INNOCENT SWEET DRINKS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM. >> LASTS FOR A LOT LONGER IN KIDS THAN IT DOES IN ADULTS SO, THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE GOING TO BE MORE PROMINENT, AND THAT CAN BE ANXIETY AND CAN LEAD TO POOR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE. MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO AVOID CAFFEINE IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. >> DR. READER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT COMMON TO OVERDOSE ON CAFFEINE BUT NOW IS THE TIME TO REMIND KIDS WHERE CAFFEINE COMES FROM SO THEY DON'T CONSUME TOO MUCH. COFFEE, ENERGY DRINKS, TEA AND CANDY, LIKE CHOCOLATE. IF THE CHILD IS HAVING TREMORS, FLUSHED SKIN OR CHEST PAINS, THAT'S YOUR SIGNAL TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. >> AND QUICKLY. >> EXACTLY. >> THAT'S A GOOD WARNING, AND I THINK THE MORE KIDS YOU SEE SITTING AT THE STARBUCKS, YOU REALIZE IT'S POPULAR. >> AND THEY WANT IT AND IT'S SUGARY AND SWEET SO THEY DON'T REALLY REALIZE THAT THEY'RE DRINKING COFFEE LIKE WE DRINK IT, SO THEY CAN CONSUME TOO
