Alcohol poisoning: what to do in an emergency

Alcohol poisoning is already dangerous for the youngest

When teenagers consume alcohol, they show the usual symptoms. They have coordination disorders, stagger, they suffer from nausea and vomiting. But younger children can also consume alcohol and suffer from alcohol poisoning through accidental or intentional consumption. Since the child’s organism is not yet fully developed, even small amounts of alcohol are sufficient to permanently impair it.

Effects of alcohol on children

You have to keep in mind that your child’s organs are not yet sufficiently developed to properly break down alcohol. In addition, there is the small body size and weight. As a result, even small amounts of alcohol are quickly distributed in the organism and can even be fatal in the worst case. In general, your child’s nervous system is much more sensitive and even a blood alcohol level of 0.5 can lead to unconsciousness. Alcohol poisoning does not always show the intoxication typical of adults. The child can sometimes suddenly fall into a deep stupor.

How do you recognize alcohol poisoning?

• Your child smells of alcohol from their mouth
• Your child seems confused
• Your child throws up for reasons that are inexplicable to you
• Your child shows signs of low blood sugar (breaks out in a sweat, tremors, severe heart palpitations and sometimes also speech disorders)

What to do with alcohol poisoning?

• If you find a drunk bottle of alcohol with your child, then ask if they drank any of it and if so how much. Also, if they are conscious, ask them how they are.
• Feed your child sugary liquids. This is how you counteract hypoglycaemia.
• Then lay your child in the stable side position (in the case of a baby lying on its stomach) so that vomit can drain off unhindered.
• Cover it up to keep it warm, because alcohol constricts blood vessels and can cause hypothermia.
• Talk to your child and watch it carefully, if it loses consciousness you have to act.

If your child is unconscious from alcohol poisoning:

• Call the emergency services!
• Open your child’s airways by stretching their head further back.
• Check breathing and pulse.
• If cardiac arrest occurs, begin CPR .
• If your child breathes again, bring it into the stable side position and do not let it out of your sight.

Be careful!

To avoid the worst, keep all alcoholic bottles in a safe place. In this way, local alcohol remains inaccessible to your child. Never leave a bottle or glass of alcohol unattended. Children are curious and don’t know that the content is harmful to them. Sweet liqueurs or mixed drinks are particularly dangerous! Due to the relatively low alcohol taste, children usually drink much more from it than from hard schnapps or bitter beer. Unfortunately, the sweetness hides the danger.