Its creeping toward the end of the night.
Your friend, previously the life of the party, is passed out on the couch.
But exactly how drunk are they?
After a few beers, youll notice that its harder to walk straight or avoid texting your ex.
After a few more, your vision and speech might be affected.
Drink enough, and you wont be able to regulate your breathing or activate life-saving reflexes.
Thats not the only thing to watch for, though.
Keepnaloxoneon hand (now available without a prescription in all 50 states).
Go ahead, be the person with afishbowl of free condoms.
Why should RAs have all the fun?
The other big danger to a drunk person is trauma,especially head injuries.
Or, you know, get behind the wheel of a car.
Even themildly tipsy can cause serious accidents; dont risk it.
(Some schools have a rescue squad that can get to you faster than local police.)
Check on them often to double-check they stay responsive, and be ready to call for help if needed.
Get them to a safe place, like home or a friends place.
And dont drive them anywhere if youre drunk too.
Dont attempt to sober them upwith coffee or cold showers or whatever helpful suggestions people are offering.
Their liver just needs time to do its job.
Tell emergency responders what happenedhow many drinks they had, what kind, and their symptoms or injuries.
Even if youre afraid of getting in trouble, its still better to call.
Regardless, emergency personnel are more interested in saving lives than turning people in.
So, yes, there will likely be a parental phone call.
Theyll verify your friend is breathing normally, keeping a safe body temperature, and so on.
Support their vitals, for example by giving fluids as needed and medications to control pain or nausea.
Protect their airway, if necessary, with abreathing tube.
If nothing is seriously wrong, theyll usually get to go home in the morning.
