To assess the victim’s condition is not easy.
And even more difficult if you do not know, actually in front of you, the victim, or just a man drunk as hell.
Shakiness, slurred speech, sagging fences hands – these symptoms can be like a drug addict or a drunk, and a man with a stroke or traumatic brain injury. And if drunk you can still recognize the smell, then the addict just try to determine!
Meanwhile, there are some good signs that will help you understand who is who, doctors say.
In a hospital or detox?
Victims are never “just drunk”. Termolite person. If sleep – Wake. Even very drunk to react, at least swore, and flips to the other side.
But a person with a stroke or other serious violation, especially of the brain will continue to “sleep” on.
And by the way, if a man smell of alcohol, but he’s not responding to your attempts to bring him back to life, this is also a reason to call an ambulance. Because the first (alcohol) does not exclude the second (traumatic brain injury).
But age is the last thing you should pay attention to. In recent years people with stroke is much younger.
Check the pulse on your wrist or on the carotid artery.
If the person recovered, but is in a confused state, ask his name, what day, time of year, in which city he is – his answers will help to understand the human condition: just drunk or injured with brain fog (which often happens with head injuries).
And don’t give him any medicine! You don’t know what diseases affected the stranger, and on your meds it can react in different ways, until the symptoms of anaphylactic shock.
It is assumed that the victim, drunk or not, should Express the consent to the provision of first aid. However, a person in a condition of alcoholic or narcotic intoxication, it is difficult to expect an adequate reaction to the actions of physicians. Rescuers can default to assume that if a patient is able to think clearly, he would agree to accept their help. This is called implied consent.
And another important point. Often, people are realizing that in front of them drunk, leave. However, it is quite possible this situation is that it is not just drunk, but drunk with the trauma or perhaps stroke. Therefore “better to do and regret than not do and regret.” That is, it is better to call an ambulance, and then the doctors will understand – to save the man or leave him alone.
Why drunk too, it is better to call an ambulance
Sometimes a person intoxicated urgent help is needed even more. Alcohol depresses the Central nervous system and can retard some unconditioned reflexes, such as swallowing or the gag reflex that may in certain situations lead to suffocation. Because of the alcohol a person may feel dizzy, and this, in turn, may cause nausea and vomiting. Vomit can block the airway and lead to suffocation and death.
Under strong intoxication the victim breathing can slow, become shallow. This state may lead not only alcohol, but some drugs.
Opiates, such as heroin, can cause total respiratory failure. Benzodiazepines, such as valium, also inhibit the respiratory function, especially in combination with alcohol.
Alcohol causes dilation of blood vessels, which reduces pressure and blocks the body’s ability to compensate for the effects of haemorrhage and shock. Vasodilation causes a rush of blood to the skin, i.e., to the surface of the body where the blood is cooled, which can lead to hypothermia.
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