Alcohol Overdose FAQ's

If a person vomits, won't that get rid of most of the alcohol and then it will be OK?

No. Alcohol enters the blood stream within 20 to 40 minutes, so by the time a person vomits, most of the alcohol is usually out of the stomach.

Then why do people have their stomachs pumped in hospital emergency rooms in cases of alcohol overdose? If a person

Most of the time, stomach contents are not removed in cases of alcohol overdose. On occasion the medical staff may decide to empty the stomach as a precaution to avoid choking if the person is likely to vomit. The procedure may be done if other drugs are suspected.

Does sweating and urinating eliminate alcohol from the body?

No. Less that 5% of the alcohol consumed is eliminated in this manner.

What should be done if an alcohol overdose is suspected?

Call 911! Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency!

What is wrong with letting the person sleep it off?

When the person goes to bed, the blood alcohol level could be on the rise. The person could, therefore, experience increasing medical distress as time passes. In addition, there is always the danger of choking on vomit if the person throws up while sleeping.