Quick and informed actions in these critical moments can make a significant difference in the person’s outcome. Another critical immediate action is to place the person on their side in the recovery position. This position helps prevent choking by ensuring their airway remains open and allows any vomit to drain easily, reducing the risk of aspiration. This position is especially important if the person is unconscious or vomiting, as it minimizes the risk of suffocation. These symptoms reflect severe physiological compromise and distinguish alcohol poisoning from routine intoxication.
Although young people are most likely to engage in binge drinking, deaths from alcohol poisoning usually involve men between the ages of 35 and 64, according to the CDC. And middle-aged people are more likely than younger ones to take prescription drugs, which can increase the severity of alcohol poisoning. If you or a friend are drinking, pay attention to how much you consume and how quickly. If a friend appears to be drinking too much too fast, try to intervene and limit how much more they have. Higher liquor concentration doesn’t necessarily cause poisoning more quickly, as your body actually absorbs alcohol most efficiently at 10-30% concentrations.
Suffocation and Death
- Mental status changes, including inability to maintain consciousness or severe confusion, require immediate emergency response.
- Avoid giving them food, water, coffee, or any other substances, as these can interfere with medical treatment or worsen their condition.
- If they show signs of severe distress, such as slow or irregular breathing, blue-tinged skin, or unresponsiveness, call emergency services immediately.
- Drinking on an empty stomach and taking sleeping pills, antidepressants, or pain relievers can make it easier for alcohol to enter your bloodstream and strengthen its effects.
Emergency medical attention is necessary at this point to avoid death and severe health problems. Any of these symptoms are signs that immediate medical attention is necessary. At this stage, a person’s BAC will range from 0.25 to 0.4 percent. The condition is usually linked to drinking too many alcohol beverages.
What Is Considered the Best Overall Treatment for Alcohol Withdrawal?
If you see signs of alcohol poisoning, such as throwing up, seizures, slow breathing, or severe confusion, don’t hesitate to call 911. Alcohol poisoning is a serious — and sometimes deadly — result of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Drinking too much too quickly can affect breathing, heart rate, body temperature and gag reflex. Another common mistake is placing the person in a cold shower, which is highly discouraged. Cold water can cause a rapid drop in body temperature, leading to hypothermia, and it may also trigger shock in an already compromised state. Moreover, the shock of cold water can cause the person to lose consciousness or experience difficulty breathing.
You must seek emergency medical treatment for a person who’s showing symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Teenagers and young adults who drink may be at particular risk for alcohol overdose. Research shows that teens and college-age young adults often engage in binge drinking and high-intensity drinking.
Who May Be at Risk?
In the U.S., paramedics don’t charge for a visit unless the person needs to go to the hospital. Alcohol poisoning happens when there’s so much alcohol in your bloodstream that it starts shutting down life-supporting areas of your brain. Finally, do not leave the person alone, even if they appear to be sleeping or improving. Alcohol poisoning can worsen suddenly, and symptoms like seizures, hypothermia, or respiratory failure can develop without warning. Avoid giving them food, water, coffee, or any other substances, as these can interfere with medical treatment or worsen their condition. Your focus should remain on keeping them safe, comfortable, and monitored until professional help arrives.
- Mixed drinks and cocktails often contain multiple servings of alcohol, making it easy to lose track of how much you’ve consumed.
- Teenagers and young adults who drink may be at particular risk for alcohol overdose.
- Throughout these actions, monitor the person’s breathing, skin color, and responsiveness.
- Alcohol at very high levels can hinder signals in the brain that control automatic responses, such as the gag reflex.
- But if you drink a lot in a short time, your liver may not be able to keep up.
- Individuals with a history of heavy drinking may develop a higher tolerance, but this can be misleading, as it does not protect against alcohol poisoning.
Confusion
People in this stage of intoxication are very likely to forget things happening around or to them. They might “black out” without actually losing consciousness and may not be able to feel pain. Celebrating at parties, cheering a favorite sports team, and enjoying get-togethers after work are common ways to relax or be with friends. For some people, these occasions may also include drinking—even binge or high-intensity drinking. If you think someone has alcohol poisoning, get them medical help as soon as possible. Alcohol poisoning also can occur when adults or children accidentally or intentionally drink household products that contain alcohol.
Do not hesitate to seek medical help if you suspect alcohol poisoning, as professional intervention can be life-saving. Remember, the goal is to keep the person safe and ensure they receive the necessary care. In the event of suspected alcohol poisoning, immediate action is crucial to prevent life-threatening complications. The first and most critical step is to call emergency services (911 in the U.S.) immediately. Do not hesitate or wait alcohol poisoning symptoms for symptoms to worsen—alcohol poisoning can escalate rapidly, and professional medical intervention is essential. Clearly communicate the person’s condition, symptoms, and any known details about the amount or type of alcohol consumed.
If a person has generally consumed two to three drinks as a man or one to two drinks as a woman in an hour, they’ll enter the euphoric stage of intoxication. Their blood alcohol content (BAC), which measures how much alcohol is in the bloodstream, will be very low at 0.01 to 0.05 percent. Even if someone has stopped drinking and appears to be getting better, they could still be in danger.
Alcohol left in their stomach and intestines can continue to enter the bloodstream, potentially worsening symptoms. The amount of alcohol that can cause alcohol poisoning isn’t the same for everyone. Other factors include your medications and how much food you eat before drinking. If you drink too much alcohol too quickly, your liver can’t remove it fast enough. This causes the amount of alcohol in the blood, also known as blood alcohol concentration (BAC), to rise. What tips the balance from drinking that produces impairment to drinking that puts one’s life in jeopardy varies among individuals.
Drinking such large quantities of alcohol can overwhelm the body’s ability to break down and clear alcohol from the bloodstream. This leads to rapid increases in BAC and significantly impairs brain and other bodily functions. When dealing with alcohol poisoning, it’s crucial to avoid giving the person caffeine, as it does not counteract the effects of alcohol and can actually worsen the situation. Caffeine is a stimulant that may mask the sedative effects of alcohol, making the person appear more alert than they actually are. This false sense of wakefulness can delay the recognition of severe symptoms, such as slowed breathing or loss of consciousness.
Lastly, pre-existing health conditions and lifestyle factors can influence susceptibility to alcohol poisoning. Individuals with liver disease, diabetes, or heart conditions are at heightened risk, as their bodies may struggle to process alcohol effectively. Chronic stress, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition can also impair the body’s ability to handle alcohol. Educating oneself and others about these risk factors is crucial for preventing alcohol poisoning.