Alcohol Poisoning: Signs and When to Go to the ER
Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency. Call 911 if someone who has been drinking cannot be woken, is breathing slowly or irregularly, is vomiting while drowsy, has a seizure, or feels cold with blue or pale skin. Do not leave them to sleep it off.
A bad hangover is miserable but the person is awake and responds to you. Poisoning is different: the person is unresponsive or barely responsive, and their breathing or body temperature may be affected.
Need help now? Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency, or reach our 24/7 line.
Key takeaways
- Someone who cannot be woken after drinking needs 911, not sleep.
- Slow or irregular breathing, seizures, pale or blue skin and cold skin are red flags.
- Never leave an unwell, drowsy person alone, and never leave them on their back.
- Do not give coffee, cold showers or more alcohol, and do not make them sick.
- If it is deliberate or the person is under the legal age, still get medical help; support is available.
People often joke that someone has just had too much to drink, but a high level of alcohol in the blood can slow the parts of the brain that control breathing, heart rate and the gag reflex. The signs can be missed because the person looks like they are asleep. This guide helps you tell a rough night from a medical emergency. If you are unsure, treat it as an emergency. For vomiting that looks like blood, see is vomiting blood an emergency.
What are the signs of alcohol poisoning?
- Confusion, or cannot be woken or hardly responds.
- Vomiting, especially while drowsy.
- Slow breathing, or long gaps between breaths.
- Pale, bluish or clammy skin, and a low body temperature.
- Seizures.
- Passing out and not coming round.
What should I do while waiting for help?
- Call 911 and stay with the person.
- If they are unconscious but breathing, lay them on their side in the recovery position so they cannot choke on vomit.
- Keep them warm with a coat or blanket; do not use a cold shower.
- Do not give coffee, food, water to force down, or more alcohol.
- Tell the crew what and roughly how much they drank, and when, and any medicines or drugs taken.
- If they stop breathing, follow the 911 operator's instructions.
Why is it dangerous to let someone sleep it off?
Alcohol can keep rising in the blood for a time after the last drink, so a person can get worse while asleep. Vomiting while drowsy can block the airway, and breathing can slow dangerously. Someone sleeping normally can be woken and responds; someone in trouble cannot. Alcohol can also hide other problems, such as a head injury after a fall: see head injury in adults. Mixing alcohol with medicines such as painkillers or sleeping tablets adds to the risk.
Bad hangover or alcohol poisoning?
| What it may be | Typical signs | When it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hangover | Headache, nausea, thirst, tired, but awake and responds | Hours after drinking, next morning | Rest and fluids; see a doctor if you cannot keep fluids down |
| Very drunk but responsive | Unsteady, slurred speech, vomiting, can be woken | During drinking | Stay with them, on their side, no more alcohol; call 911 if they get worse |
| Alcohol poisoning | Cannot be woken, slow breathing, cold or blue skin, seizure | Can worsen after the last drink | Call 911 |
| Alcohol plus a fall or medicines | Head injury, drowsiness out of proportion, vomiting again and again | Any time | Go to the ER now |
When is this an emergency?
Call 911 or go to the ER now if:
- Cannot be woken, or barely responds.
- Slow breathing, irregular breathing or long pauses between breaths.
- A seizure or fit.
- Pale, blue-tinged or very cold, clammy skin.
- Repeated vomiting, especially while drowsy, or vomiting blood.
- A head injury or a fall while drunk.
- Mixed alcohol with medicines or drugs, or a deliberate overdose.
Do any of these match? For a life-threatening emergency call 911. For other urgent problems, our Dabouq emergency department is open 24/7.
See a doctor the same day if:
- You cannot keep any fluids down after heavy drinking.
- A heavy drinker who has stopped suddenly and feels shaky, sweaty or very anxious (withdrawal can be serious).
- A teenager or young person who has been drinking and you are worried, even if they now seem better.
- Stomach pain that persists after drinking.
May be managed at home, with follow-up, if:
- Sip water slowly and rest on your side if you feel sick.
- Do not drink more alcohol, and do not take painkillers on an empty, upset stomach without checking with a pharmacist.
- Have someone stay with you until you are clearly improving.
What happens when you come to Emergency Plus?
At the emergency department at Emergency Plus in Dabouq, emergency doctors are on site 24/7 and you can walk in without an appointment. The team will ask about your symptoms, check you, and may use the on-site X-ray, ultrasound or laboratory where they are needed. They will explain the right next step for you, in Arabic or English.
Worried about someone who has been drinking?
For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and don't drive yourself. For anything urgent that is not life-threatening, the emergency department at Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 with no appointment, with an Arabic and English speaking team.
Call our 24/7 ER: +962 79 247 1313Sources
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. Emergency Plus in Dabouq, Amman is open 24/7 — +962 79 247 1313.