Drinking too much, too fast increases blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Too much alcohol in the bloodstream is called alcohol poisoning. It can cause a person to pass out. Show
While your first instinct may be to let a friend who’s passed out sleep it off, know that things can go from bad to worse quickly when someone drinks enough to lose consciousness. Acting fast could save their life. Try to wake them upIt’s true that some people will crash after a few drinks, but someone who’s just sleeping it off will be fairly easy to wake. To try to wake them up:
If they’re not responding, call for help right awayIf you’re trying to wake up someone who’s passed out and they’re not responding, call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away. A person’s BAC can continue to rise even when they’ve stopped drinking and are unconscious. This could lead to permanent brain damage or death if they don’t get help fast enough. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, which controls basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate. It can also affect a person’s gag reflex. As a result, the intoxicated person is at risk of choking on their vomit or having their heart rate and breathing turn dangerously slow or stop. While you wait for help to arrive
If they do respond, monitor them closelyWhile being responsive is definitely better than being unresponsive, your friend isn’t out of the woods just yet. Remember, their BAC can keep rising and the situation can change quickly. If you’re able to wake them up, don’t leave them alone. Alcohol affects muscle coordination and judgement, increasing the chances of injury, like falling. There’s also still a chance that their symptoms can worsen, and they can lose consciousness or choke if they vomit. If possible, have them sit on the ground so they can’t fall. Keep them upright or partially upright in case they do start to vomit. If they need to lie down, make sure they lie on their side. Try to keep your friend warm, still, and calm. Avoid giving them anything to eat or drink. Contrary to popular belief, black coffee won’t help them sober up, and neither will taking a cold shower or walking it off. Doing these things actually increases their risk of choking or falling. Try to keep them awake. If they do fall asleep, wake them frequently to make sure they haven’t lost consciousness. If at any time you have trouble waking them or they start choking, call 911 right away. Watch for these symptomsHere are the signs of alcohol poisoning to watch out for.
When in doubt, call for helpYou might question whether someone is drunk enough to call 911 (or worry that others will see your reaction as overkill). But it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
As for getting in trouble, keep in mind that first responders are more concerned with helping the person in need than busting someone for underage drinking or using illegal substances. To help further put your mind at ease about the possibility of getting in trouble, many states have what’s called medical amnesty legislation. It’s also sometimes referred to as the 911 Good Samaritan Law or 911 Lifeline Law. These laws were put in place to protect people in these very circumstances. They guarantee limited immunity for underage or intoxicated people who seek help for themselves or someone else in need of immediate medical attention. You can see if your state has a medical amnesty law and learn more about it on the Medical Amnesty Initiative’s website. The bottom lineIf your friend is passed out drunk, don’t just assume they’re sleeping it off or didn’t drink enough to overdose. Everyone processes alcohol at a different rate. Their BAC could be a lot higher than yours even if you drank the same amount. Don’t let doubt or fear stop you from getting them the help they need and potentially saving their life. Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a Canada-based freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. When she’s not holed up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board. What do you do when someone is drunk and asleep?STAY WITH THE PERSON AND WAKE HIM/HER UP FREQUENTLY.
Even though the person is sleeping, alcohol levels may continue to rise, causing the person to become unconscious, rather than asleep. If at any time you can not wake the person up, CALL 9-1-1.
How do you take care of a drunk person at night?Helping your friend
Get them a glass of water or a soft drink, or even order them some food. This will stop them drinking and give their bodies time to process the alcohol. In the future, agree a drinks limit with your friends and make sure you have some soft drinks or water.
How long should you watch a drunk person sleep?Monitor them
It's a sacrifice but make sure you're monitoring them every 10 minutes. Check to see if their breathing is steading, if they've vomited or if they've rolled over. They could still be getting more drunk as they sleep so this is a really important step. We recommend having a schedule with friends you trust.
Can I let a drunk person go to sleep?Absolutely not! Even though the person may appear to be "sleeping it off," their blood alcohol level can still rise and create a life-threatening situation. Place the person on their side, maintain that position and stay with the person.
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