Alcohol Poisoning

Most college and university students make responsible choices when it comes to alcohol and don’t end up in the hospital as a result of alcohol poisoning. Knowing the facts and making responsible choices can prevent this medical emergency from happening.

Not knowing what you’re drinking, letting others mix your drinks, or not pacing yourself when you drink are just a few of the things that can lead to a dangerous situation.

So, what is the best way to protect yourself? Be in control of your decisions of how much you drink. Always have a plan with your friends before you go out: watch out for one another and be informed about alcohol poisoning and how to deal with it. To prevent a tragic situation, it’s important to know the effects of alcohol on your body and be able to identify potential alcohol poisoning.

Sometimes it all comes down to making responsible choices and having friends who look out for one another.

Myth: “People pass out all the time from drinking too much alcohol. It’s no big deal.”

Fact: Losing consciousness is one of the signs of alcohol poisoning and is a potential medical emergency.

You might believe that getting drunk and passing out are part of the college or university experience, but they are not. The majority of Canadian students are making healthy choices about alcohol and do not drink to the point of alcohol poisoning. To make a healthy choice, you need to be informed.

How does alcohol affect your body?

• Alcohol slows down many bodily functions, including blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
• A large amount of alcohol in your system can progress the “slowing down” to “passing  out” and losing consciousness.
• Vital organs can be slowed down to the point of stopping.
• The body processes about one standard drink an hour.
• Consider that after drinking very quickly (shots, drinking games, funnels etc.) alcohol may not have reached the brain yet. It will take time to circulate and so the effects won’t be felt yet.

How much is too much?

• Different people experience different effects.
• Someone with low tolerance or who is sensitive to alcohol, could be seriously at risk after
• a few drinks.
• There is no standard = each individual responds to alcohol differently.

Myth: “When someone passes out, the best thing to do is take them home and put them to bed to sleep it off”

Fact: Assuming that someone can just “sleep it off” is dangerous.

Here are some steps if you encounter someone who is passed out and could be suffering from acute alcohol poisoning:

1.       Try to wake the person.

Can the person be woken up? Do they respond to their name being called? Pinch their skin – they should have a reaction. Alcohol is a depressant and it will numb the nerves, by pinching you can roughly gauge how far along in the “overdose” process they are. If they do not respond, they may need medical attention.

2.       Turn the person on their side – do not leave them alone.

Turning them on their side ensures that if they vomit, their airway will not be blocked and they will not choke. Stay with them – only leave them if you have to get someone to help you.

3.       Check skin colour and temperature

 Is enough blood getting to the skin? A clear sign that you need to get help is if the skin is pale or bluish in colour, or the skin is cold or clammy. These signs indicate that the person is not getting sufficient oxygen and they need immediate medical attention.

4.       Check their breathing

Irregular breathing, with a few breaths and then nothing for a while, 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 that they need help. These are just some of the potential signs of acute alcohol poisoning. A person may have one or all of these signs. Use your instincts when assessing a situation. If you cannot wake the person up at all, it is a serious situation. If you are at all concerned, don’t hesitate to get help.

Myth: “If I called for help, my friend could get in trouble.”

Fact: Always take action when a friend’s life could be in danger.

When all is said and done, it comes down to friendship. You may feel hesitant to bring a friend to the hospital, or get residence life staff involved because you don’t want to get a friend in trouble. It is important to remember that your actions could save their life. Be proud of yourself for taking an active and vitally important role in ensuring the safety of your friend.

It is always better to be safe than sorry. When in doubt, call the residence life staff, the hospital, or campus police. The drinker risks facing a policy sanction and maybe some embarrassment, but all of this will pass. None of these consequences compare to losing a life. Don’t let fear about how your friend may respond tomorrow prevent you from acting and getting help today.

Staying with your friend, monitoring the situation and calling for help may be the greatest thing you could ever do in the name of friendship.

The next day discuss the situation with your friend. Ask questions, express any concerns you may have about their drinking, and know it is okay to feel anger towards your friend for putting you in a scary situation.

The BACCHUS Maneuver:

If someone you know passes out from drinking too much, you can help by positioning the person to help prevent choking should they vomit. This is called the BACCHUS Maneuver.

The person may also need more than just time to sleep it off. If you're worried that they're in danger, get medical attention, especially if you can't rouse them. They may have combined alcohol with drugs, or they may have a medical condition you're not aware of and need to be hospitalized.

1.  Raise the person's closest arm above his head. Prepare to roll him / her towards you.



2.  Gently roll as a unit. Guard his / her head as you roll him / her.



3.  Tilt head to maintain airway. Tuck nearest hand under cheek to help maintain head tilt.



4.  Check him / her often.