Have you ever been part of a situation where the amount of alcohol consumed is bordering on being unsafe? How do you know when it is safe to let someone “sleep it off” or when they need medical attention?
There are certain signs someone may start to show when the amount of alcohol consumed can be life threatening. Remember the acronym “PUBBS.”
Puking: vomiting, even when passed out.
Unresponsive: no longer responding to things that would normally wake a person up, like pinching, shaking, or shouting at them.
Breathing: irregular, shallow, or slow breaths (fewer than 8 breaths a minute).
Bladder and bowels: uncontrolled emptying- may pee or poop without realizing.
Skin: cold to the touch. Skin, lips or fingertips may start to turn blue.
The signs listed above all point to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is when someone is so drunk that the brain to body connection begins to shut down. This tends to happen when many alcoholic drinks are consumed in a short period of time, and the body can’t keep up anymore. The brain can no longer control things in the body like it normally would, such as breathing, keeping the body warm, or even keeping the heart beating. It can lead to death and should not be overlooked.
What do you do when someone starts to display these symptoms?
Call 911.
Sit them upright. If they are unable to sit up, position them so they are lying on their side. This will help so that if they vomit they won’t choke (no one said drinking was glamorous).
Cover them with blankets as body temperatures can drop.
Most importantly, stay by their side until help arrives.
Even if a person stops drinking, their blood alcohol content can still rise. It is important to stay properly hydrated and NEVER drink on an empty stomach. If the drinker is still conscious and able to swallow without choking, encourage them to drink water.
Don’t hesitate to call 911. You may also call position control at 800-222-1222 and someone on the line can walk you through what your next step should be.
When out at the pubs, remember PUBBS.