Binge Drinking: Alcohol Poisoning
On Campus Emergency Call: 2600
Off Campus Emergency Call: 911
Signs & Symptoms
- Unconscious or semiconscious state.
- Slow respiration. Breaths of eight or less per minute
OR lapses between breaths of more than 10 seconds.
- Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin.
- A strong odor of alcohol.
Note: These are some of the obvious signs of acute alcohol poisoning. Symptoms
may very per individual. There are no absolutes.
Actions
- Try to wake the person. Call their name, Shake
them, Pinch their skin. If they don't respond, get help.
- Turn and keep the person on their side. Do
not leave them. Help maintain the side position by placing a pillow
in the small of person's back. This position will help to keep the person
from choking should they vomit.
- Check their skin color and temperature. A
sign that you should get help is if a person has pale or bluish skin
or if the skin is cold and clammy.
- Check the person's breathing. If it is irregular,
or too slow/shallow (less than 8 breaths per minute or more than 10
seconds between breaths), get help!
- If you discover any one of the above problems,
stay with the person and call 2600 if on campus or 911 if off campus.
It is important to contact emergency services
quickly!