ALCOHOL POISONING:

TAKING ACTION

There are steps you can take if you encounter someone who could be suffering from acute alcohol poisoning.  It is dangerous to assume a person will be fine by “just sleeping it off.”

●       Try to wake the person:

First, try to find out if the person is at all attentive.  Are they unconscious?  Can they be woken up?  Try and call their name.

Pinch their skin – because they should have a reaction.

Remember alcohol is a depressant and it will numb the nerves

so by pinching the skin can gauge how far along in the “overdose” process they are.

●       Turn the person on their side/do not leave them:

            Turn the person on his/her side.  You turn the person on their side so that if they get sick and

            vomit, the airways will not be blocked and they will not

            choke.  Stay with them.  Only leave if you have to go to a phone or to get       

            or to get someone to help you.  Monitor the breathing.  Make sure they do

            not roll over on their back.

●       Check skin color or temperature:

What is their skin color and temperature?  Is enough blood getting to the skin?  A sign that you should get help is if a person has pale or bluish skin,

Oor the skin is cold or clammy.  This person is not getting enough oxygen.

●       Check the person’s breathing:

            How is the person breathing?  If a person is breathing irregularly with a few

breaths and then nothing for awhile, this is a sign that medical attention is necessary.  If the person’s breathing is too slow or shallow – less than 8

breaths a minute – or more than 10 seconds between breaths – this is another sign you should get help.

●       There are no absolutes\everyone is different:

            These are just some of the potential signs of acute alcohol poisoning.  A

            Pperson may have one or all.  For instance, there is no guarantee that if a

            Pperson is breathing 9 times a minute they will be fine, or if they are

            Bbreathing 7 times a minute they will die.  If you cannot wake the person

Uup at all, it is a serious situation.  If you are at all concerned, don’t hhesitate to get help.

REMEMBER – IT’S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.  WHEN IN DOUBT, CALL THE RESIDENCE LIFE STAFF, 911, AND/OR CAMPUS POLICE.

Taken from brochure – Alcohol Poisoning, The Bacchus and Gamma Peer Education Network