Alcohol Poisoning and Treatment

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The hardest part regarding alcohol poisoning and treatment is making the decision to seek immediate medical help.  If someone who has been drinking heavily persists in falling asleep, waken him or her. If the individual does not respond easily, do not simply let him or her "sleep it off." 

Instead, it is time to call the police emergency number (911) and ask for immediate assistance.  By engaging in this "appropriate response," you may be saving someone's life.

The Most Difficult Part in Responding to Alcohol Poisoning

The most difficult aspect of saving someone from alcohol poisoning, interestingly, does not take place in the hospital Emergency Room.

Nor does saving a person from alcohol poisoning involve complicated medical treatment.

The hardest part about responding to an alcohol overdose case is making the decision to seek immediate medical help.

The fear of embarrassment, public humiliation, possible legal repercussions (for instance, for underage drinkers), or a lack of knowledge about the symptoms and the seriousness of alcohol poisoning can lead to indecision, which can be fatal.

If someone who has been drinking heavily persists in falling asleep, waken him or her. If the person does not respond easily, it is time to call the police emergency number (911) and ask for assistance.  And please do not assume that the person will "sleep it off" or would prefer not to be disturbed.  Alcohol poisoning is a potentially fatal situation that requires prompt and accurate responses if the person is to receive the most appropriate medical attention.

Furthermore, getting the person home and in bed is not a solution, and may actually place the drinker at risk due to the fact that he or she is no longer being observed.  If you reasonably believe that other drugs were also ingested, be sure to tell the ambulance or medical personnel.  Why is this important?   

Alcohol when combined with other drugs, legal or illegal, accounts for approximately 33% of all drug overdose cases in the United States.

Alcohol Poisoning and Treatment at the Hospital

Once someone has called for medical assistance, the person experiencing alcohol poisoning symptoms will almost always be taken to a hospital.  At the hospital, alcohol poisoning is usually treated by pumping the person stomach.  More to the point, also known as or gastric lavage or gastric irrigation, pumping an individual's stomach involves inserting a tube in the person's mouth or nose and passing it down into the stomach. 

After the tube has been secured, the administration and removal of small amounts of saline is repeated until the returning fluid is clear (meaning that the stomach does not contain any more gastric contents).

Alcohol Poisoning and Treatment:  Conclusion

The most difficult part concerning alcohol poisoning and treatment is making the decision to seek immediate medical help.  For instance, if someone who has been drinking excessively persists in falling asleep, waken him or her. 

If the person does not respond easily, it is time to call the police emergency number (911) and ask for immediate assistance.

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