Alcohol Poisoning

What Alcohol Poisoning Looks Like 

• The person is extremely confused and disoriented and may be falling down
• The person passes out and is hard to wake or won't wake up
• Breathing is slow and/or irregular
• The person feels very cold
• Skin/lips are cold, clammy, pale, or bluish
• The person is vomiting while passed out
• The person is having seizures

The Dangers

• If someone with alcohol poisoning is left untreated, they can suffer from hypothermia, irregular heart beat and breathing, low blood sugar (leads to seizures), severe dehydration, and death; they also can choke to death if they vomit.
• Even if the person lives, an alcohol overdose can cause irreversible brain damage.

What to Do

• Remember that this is an emergency situation, and you should seek professional medical help rather than trying to address it on your own.
• Put aside concerns about getting in trouble if you have been drinking too—preventing serious injury or death is more important in this situation.
• Call 911 immediately. The person probably has alcohol poisoning, which could be fatal or cause serious health problems.
• Do not leave the person alone or let them “sleep it off"—stay with them until help arrives.
• Try to stay calm.
• Keep the person awake and sitting up if possible.
• If they are conscious, give them water to prevent dehydration.
• If the person is unconscious, turn them on their side to prevent choking if they vomit.
• Keep the person warm to prevent hypothermia.
• Do not try to give the person anything to eat or drink if they are unconscious, as they may choke.
• Do not try to induce vomiting, as this may cause choking.
• Do not put the person in a cold shower, as this may cause a loss of consciousness or injuries from slipping and falling.
• Do not allow the person to drink more alcohol or consume other drugs or medications.
• If known, tell emergency personnel how much and what the person had to drink (and any other drugs or medications taken).