Alcohol overdose
Alcohol overdose, also known as alcohol poisoning, can cause serious injury and/or death. It is dangerous to assume a person experiencing alcohol overdose will be fine if they “sleep it off.” This page provides information on how to identify if someone is experiencing alcohol overdose and how to respond.
*Most states have laws that may protect a person who is overdosing or the person who called for help from legal trouble. Washington state has the Good Samaritian law that does this.
Alcohol overdose signs
- Unable to identify where/who they are: extreme confusion
- Unable to sit or stand by themselves
- Unable to remain conscious or awake
- Vomiting repeatedly
- Vomiting while unconscious
- Breathing slow or irregularly
- Cool, clamy, blue/green/purple skin, low body temperature: hypothermia
- Seizures
- You cannot wake the person
What to do if someone is overdosing
If someone is experiencing alcohol overdosing, use The Recovery Position, call 911, and stay with the person until emergency medical services arrive.
- Stay with the person. If you must leave them alone at any point, or if they are unconscious, put them in The Recovery Position to keep their airway clear and prevent choking.
- Raise the person’s arm closest to you straight above the head. Straighten the leg closest to you. Bend the other leg at the knee and bring the other arm across the chest. The bent knee stops the body from rolling onto the stomach.
- Gently roll the person towards you, guarding their head from injury.
- Tilt the head to keep the airway clear. Tuck the nearest hand under the cheek to maintain head tilt.
