Buzz
Whether you're a first-year student preparing for your very first frat party or an adult navigating friends who sometimes go a bit too far with their partying, it's essential to know how to act if things spiral out of control. Here are some crucial tips and first aid skills to help you assist others in need:
It’s Freshman Orientation Week at Mytour! This week, we’re focusing on how to shake off that summer slump and dive into a whirlwind of fall activities, whether you're heading to college for the first time, getting your kids ready for school, or just trying to be more productive in the classroom of life. So grab your Trapper Keepers, students. Class is in session.
Prepare in advance for a safe journey home and assistance when needed
This is the foundation of party safety: always have a plan for how you’ll get home and who you’ll be with. Ideally, bring a friend or two to the party and plan to head home together. This not only helps you stay on track, but it also allows everyone to check in on each other and stay safe throughout the night.
If you’re at college, many schools offer a number you can call if you're stranded on or near campus, or provide a “drunk bus” service that will take you home. Learn about your options in advance, and ensure you have a safe plan to get yourself and your possibly inebriated friend back to your beds.
You’ve likely received a safety pamphlet from your school, complete with emergency numbers, resources, and various helpful tips. Take a photo of that pamphlet, and add the important numbers to your phone contacts, so you’ll have them when needed. Don’t forget to snap a photo of your health insurance card, just in case you end up at the hospital, and encourage your friends to do the same.
Distinguish between ‘sleep it off’ drunk and ‘call 911’ drunk
It's not typical for someone to drink heavily and then completely pass out. While it may happen more frequently, especially at the start of the semester, don’t ignore it. If you’re uncertain whether your friend is okay, don’t hesitate to seek help. On campus, you might have access to a rescue squad or campus security; otherwise, you know to dial 911.
Seek assistance if your friend:
Looks to be asleep, but you can’t wake them up
Might be choking on their own vomit
Is breathing very slowly
If you call for help, stay with them until help arrives, and tell the emergency responders whatever you know—how many drinks they had, for example. You won’t usually get in trouble, especially if your state or school has an amnesty policy for good samaritans.
If your friend can wake up and is breathing just fine, just help them get home safely. If you’re drunk too, find a sober person who can help. Put your friend into a recovery position on the floor or in bed, and have somebody stay with them.
Watch for injuries, and know first aid
Even if somebody only has a small amount of alcohol or drugs in their system, they can still put their life or health at risk because of the things they do while they’re impaired. Do your best to keep your drunk friends away from cars, water (alcohol is a huge risk factor for drowning) and other dangerous situations.
And keep an eye out for injuries. If somebody is bleeding or badly bruised, or looks like they may have hit their head, it’s possible that they are more injured than they let on. Again, if you’re not sure how badly hurt somebody is, call for help anyway.
Take a first aid course if you can. Some critical life-saving skills to know are:
CPR, for when somebody’s heart isn’t beating or they’re not breathing (you do CPR while somebody calls 911, and keep it up until the emergency responders arrive)
How to stop bleeding in an emergency—tourniquets are good again!
What to do if someone is choking (the Heimlich works, but there’s more you should know)
Know how to use naloxone
With opioid overdoses happening more often than they used to, it’s important to know that a passed-out person might be overdosing rather than just drunk. Once again, if you don’t know, call 911 anyway.
Someone who has overdosed on opioids, whether it’s heroin or leftover prescription pain medication, will be completely unresponsive, with very slow breathing (less than 12 breaths per minute) and may have a bluish tint to their hands and lips. If you have Narcan or generic naloxone, it’s simple to administer and can help save their life.
If you think you might face this type of emergency, it could be wise to keep naloxone with you or check if there’s a nearby kit available. As Jillian Bauer-Reese wrote in Slate, it might be a good idea for every student to carry naloxone and fentanyl test strips. Whether you think you’ll need them or not, it’s always beneficial to be informed and prepared for an emergency.
