Party Smarter

9. Look out for yourself and others

  • Avoid drinking from shared containers.
  • Be cautious about drinking too much on dates.
  • Be wary of large quantities of free or cheap alcohol.
  • Give friends permission to cut you off.
  • Never drive after drinking. Refuse drunk rides home.
  • Do the right thing if a friend passes out.
  • Arrive and leave with the same group of friends.

10. Know the signs of alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is a life-threatening condition caused by high concentrations of alcohol in the blood. At high blood alcohol levels, the depressant effects of alcohol can slow a person’s breathing and heart rate down to a point where a person enters a coma and may die.

Symptoms

  • Person cannot be awakened.
  • Person has cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin.
  • Person has slow, shallow, or irregular breathing.
  • Person is vomiting while passed out and does not wake up.

If you suspect alcohol poisoning...

  • Call 911.
  • Do not leave them alone.
  • Do not put them in bed to sleep it off.
  • If they pass out, put them on their side to prevent choking on their own vomit.
  • If they stop breathing, perform CPR or find someone who knows how.