Richard Reams, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Counseling Services, Trinity University
Intoxication and drug overdoses can be life threatening. Depending
on the amount of alcohol consumed or the types of drugs taken (with or
without alcohol), loss of consciousness could lead to a coma and/or
death. Minutes could make the difference. If you have any concerns or
doubts, ask for help from an RA or from the Department of Campus Safety
(x7000). If you feel concerned, chances are you should be
concerned. Remember, you may help to save someone's life.
DO . . .
- Do stay calm to help the person in trouble stay calm.
- Do get a sober friend to help you if you are intoxicated.
- Do talk quietly in a reassuring manner
- Do avoid touching the person, which may startle or irritate
him/her
- Do stay with the intoxicated person
- Do encourage the person to be still and comfortable. If s/he
wants to lie down and sleep, s/he should be on his/her side in a fetal
position so s/he is less likely to choke on vomit.
- Do allow the person to sleep AND check periodically to be sure
s/he can be awaken. If s/he can't be awaken, that's a sign of alcohol
poisoning and you need to get help (see below).
- Do take it seriously if s/he expresses suicidal thoughts. People
are more likely to act on suicidal feelings when intoxicated or high
because their inhibitions and judgment are impaired. Contact an RA,
Residential Life Coordinator, or Department of Campus Safety officer
(x7000) to evaluate the risk of suicide.
- Do keep your distance and get help from the Department of Campus
Safety (x7000) if the person is or becomes violent or aggressive. DCS
officers are trained to handle such situations.
- Do get help immediately if the person:
- is breathing less than twelve times per minute OR
- stops breathing for periods of ten seconds or more OR
- is asleep/passed out and you cannot wake them up OR
- has skin that's cold, clammy, pale, or bluish in color
- Do get help immediately if you doubt that s/he is okay
- Do talk with the student about your concern for him/her once the
student is sober. If you express you concern in a caring and
non-judgmental but clear manner, you may help the person begin to
consider examining his/her drinking behavior or encourage the person
to make behavioral changes in order to drink more safely.
DON'T . . .
- Don't let the person drive
- Don't give the person food, drink, or medication; it could induce
vomiting or choking
- Don't attempt to sober the person up. Only the passage of time
(i.e., the detoxification action of the liver) will sober up an
intoxicated person.
- Don't give the person a cold shower. The shock may cause him/her
to pass out, resulting in injury.
- Don't walk or exercise the person
- Don't argue with or threaten the person
- Don't ridicule, laugh at, or provoke the person
- Don't attempt to constrain the person
- Don't try to keep the person awake
- Don't leave a drunk person alone to "sleep it off." You don't
know how much alcohol is in his/her stomach waiting to enter the blood
stream. The person could choke on his/her vomit or simply suffocate
if the alcohol, a central nervous system depressant, shuts down
respiration.
- In case of an emergency, call the Department of Campus Safety
(x7000) if you're on campus, or call 911 if you're off campus:
- give your location
- state the problem
- don't hang up until the dispatcher tells you to do so
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