What are signs of alcohol poisoning?

• A. fever
• B. vomiting
• C. mental confusion, stupor, coma, person cannot be roused, vomiting, slow or irregular breathing, hypothermia, bluish skin color, paleness
• D. hypothermia

Answer: (C)

Recognize when alcohol ingestion has led to a dangerous level of central nervous system depression. The most serious signs come as a cluster: mental confusion or stupor, the person cannot be woken, vomiting, and slowed or irregular breathing, along with body cooling (hypothermia) and changes in skin color such as bluish tint or paleness. This combination signals that the body isn’t handling the alcohol load properly, and there’s a real risk of choking on vomit, coma, or death, so it requires immediate medical help.

Fever isn’t a typical sign of alcohol poisoning, and while vomiting can occur with alcohol use, it by itself doesn’t indicate a life-threatening level. Hypothermia can occur, but in the absence of altered mental status and breathing problems, it isn’t as specific. The strength of the correct signs lies in their togetherness: altered consciousness plus breathing impairment and body temperature/skin color changes point to a true medical emergency. If you suspect this, call emergency services right away and monitor the person closely until help arrives.