What can I do in an emergency?
Small amounts of alcohol do not harm most people, but sometimes when young people drink the situation can get out of hand. Alcohol can affect young people quickly and unexpectedly, they may even become unconscious. About 1,000 young people around your age (under 17) are admitted to hospital each year with alcohol poisoning/acute intoxication. Young people also tend to drink in places that put them at increased risk of harm, eg parks late at night, or do dangerous things when alcohol affects their judgement. If something went wrong would you know what to do?
There are several risks to the casualty from alcohol poisoning:
- An unconscious casualty risks inhaling and choking on vomit.
- Alcohol widens (dilates) the blood vessels. This means that the body loses heat, and hypothermia may develop
- A casualty who smells of alcohol may be misdiagnosed and not receive appropriate treatment for an underlying cause of unconsciousness, such as a head injury, stroke or heart attack.
- Stay calm – never leave someone who is drunk
- Call out for help
- Check they are awake. Call loudly to them and gently shake their shoulders.
- If the person has been sick or is unconscious clear their airway of vomit by finger sweeping if necessary.
- Check they are breathing by looking, listening and feeling for movement of the chest or abdomen - if they are not breathing find someone who can give them mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
- If they are breathing, place them in the recovery position (see picture below).
- Now is the time to phone for the ambulance, dial 999 giving full details of where you are.
- Loosen any tight clothing that may stop them breathing
- Keep them warm - but not too warm - with a coat or blanket. Too much alcohol can make body temperature drop and lead to hypothermia.
- Stay with the person and don’t worry about getting “caught”, people will be more interested in the person’s safety.
- You can save their life by these simple measures