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Alcohol Poisoning — First Aid
What to do
- Recognise alcohol poisoning: confusion, slurred speech, vomiting, slow, irregular or noisy breathing, pale or bluish cold skin, seizures, and unconsciousness from which the person cannot be roused. This is a medical emergency, not 'sleeping it off'.
- Call 911 if the person cannot be woken, has slow or irregular breathing, has a seizure, is vomiting while drowsy or unconscious, or looks pale or blue.
- If they are unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position so vomit can drain and the airway stays open. Stay with them and keep checking breathing — it can slow or stop.
- Keep them warm with a blanket — alcohol accelerates heat loss.
- Do not leave them alone to sleep it off, and do not put them in a cold shower or bath.
- If they stop breathing normally, start CPR. Tell the ambulance crew roughly how much alcohol (and any other substances) were taken, and when.
What NOT to do
- Do not make them vomit — a drowsy person can inhale vomit into the lungs.
- Do not give coffee, food or more fluids to 'sober them up' — only time lowers blood alcohol, and food risks choking.
- Do not assume a person who can mumble is safe — deterioration can be rapid.
- Do not delay calling 911 out of embarrassment — alcohol poisoning kills, and services treat it as a medical emergency.
When to get medical care
Call 911 for anyone who cannot be roused, breathes slowly (fewer than about 8 breaths a minute), irregularly or noisily, has a seizure, vomits while semi-conscious, has cold, pale or blue skin, or drank a very large amount quickly — especially teenagers and anyone who may have taken other substances too.
Related symptoms
Frequently asked questions
How is alcohol poisoning different from being very drunk?
The line is function: someone who is very drunk but rousable, breathing normally and protecting their airway is usually safe to watch closely. Alcohol poisoning means the brain's control of breathing and consciousness is failing — slow or irregular breathing and unrousability are the red flags.
Can you die from alcohol poisoning in your sleep?
Yes — breathing can slow and stop, or vomit can obstruct the airway, hours after drinking stops, because blood alcohol keeps rising while alcohol remains in the stomach. That is why an unconscious drinker must be placed on their side and watched, with 911 called.
In an emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) first — do not delay a call to read a guide. These pages are educational first-aid information in general terms; they are not a substitute for emergency services, first-aid training, or assessment by a qualified clinician.
