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 Alcohol
Poisoning
PASSING OUT DOESN'T
MEAN SLEEPING IT OFF
Alcohol Poisoning: A Medical Emergency How can you tell if someone
is about to become a victim of alcohol poisoning?
And if they are what can you do to help?
Signs and Symptoms:
- Unconscious or semiconsciousness.
- Slow respiration (breaths) of eight or less per minute or lapses
between breaths of more than eight seconds.
- Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin. In the event of alcohol poisoning,
these signs and symptoms will most likely be accompanied by a
strong odor of alcohol. While these are obvious signs of alcohol
poisoning, the list is certainly not all inclusive.
Appropriate Action:
- If you encounter a person who exhibits one or more of the signs
and symptoms CALL 911. Do what you would do in any medical emergency--call
immediately.
- While waiting for 911 emergency transport, gently turn the
intoxicated person on his/her side and maintain that position
by placing a pillow in the small of the person's back. This is
important to prevent aspiration (choking) should the person vomit.
Stay with the person until medical help arrives. If a person appears
to be "sleeping it off" it is important to realize that even though
a person may be semi-conscious, alcohol already in the stomach
may continue to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout
the body. The person's life may still be in danger. If you are
having difficulty in determining whether an individual is acutely
intoxicated, contact a health professional immediately--you cannot
afford to guess.
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