What is Alcohol Poisoning?
- Alcohol Poisoning occurs when someone has consumed more
alcohol than their body can safely metabolize.
- Warning Signs Include:
- Won't wake up
- Vomiting while passed out
- Slow/Irregular Breathing
- Extreme Confusion
- Pale Skin
What to Do
- Call 911 immediately. UCSB prioritizes medical matters
over legal matters, so
do not hesitate to call for help.
- Do not let them "sleep it off". Even though
the person may have stopped drinking, alcohol continues to be
released into the
bloodstream and alcohol levels continue to rise. If left alone,
the person’s symptoms
could get worse.
- Do not try to make the person vomit. Someone who is very
drunk
has an impaired gag reflex and may choke on their vomit or
accidentally inhale vomit
into their lungs.
- Turn the person on their side to prevent choking while
vomiting.
- Stay calm.
What Happens If I Don’t Do Anything?
-
If someone with alcohol poisoning is left untreated, they can
suffer from:
- hypothermia (severe low body temperature)
- heart beats become irregular or stop
- breathing slows, becomes irregular or stops
- low blood sugar (leads to seizures)
- severe dehydration
- death
- Even if the person lives, an alcohol overdose can cause irreversible
brain damage.
Just Call 911.
-
Not sure if you should call? Just Call 911. It is FREE for an
ambulance to come check
someone out and see if they are okay. Let the medical
professionals make the educated
decision.
- If someone needs to be taken to the hospital the ambulance
ride is 100%
covered by the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).
-
Some private insurance companies also cover ambulance
rides. Those that don’t often
offer payment plans to cover the charges.
- Serious medical repercussions or death are much
worse than a hospital bill.
- Information on Facebook: facebook.com/JustCall911
Content adapted from the UCSB Alcohol & Drug Program.