Calling EMS
863-4111
is Emergency Medical Services
If
you are wondering if you should call EMS, then you should call EMS.
What
should I do if my friend gets drunk?
Do not let your friend wander off alone! You don't know where she
might end up or what might happen.
If your
friend is throwing up, let her get it all out. Do not force her
to drink water. The stomach lining is too irritated to accept any
food or water. Do not let her drink any more alcohol!
If you
put your friend to bed...
- Make
sure your friend is lying on his side or stomach, with his face
pointing sideways. If he throws up, he won't choke on his own
vomit in this position.
- Cover
him with a blanket. Alcohol dilates blood vessels and your friend
will lose heat more rapidly than usual.
- It's
important that a responsible person stay at his side, stay awake,
and watch him for several hours. You have to make sure he doesn't
roll on his back and watch for changes in his condition. If you
can't wake him easily to have a conversation (clear words and
answers, not grunts), call EMS.
When
should I call EMS?
Call EMS at 863-4111 if:
- your
friend is "falling down drunk," or has problems with
speech or motor coordination.
- there
are changes in his breathing, seizures, severe shaking, injury,
continued vomiting, blood in vomit, or combativeness.
- he
is drunk and on any other drugs or prescription medication.
- she
has passed out. Her blood alcohol content could be going up rather
than down and could lead to alcohol poisoning. You can't tell
if her life is in danger.
Will
my friend get in trouble for drinking too much or for being underage?
Your friend will not have a discipline hearing if she needs medical
attention only for drinking or other drug use. This applies no matter
how many times someone needs EMS. Brown wants you to get medical
help for your friends when they need it.
However,
if she damaged property or broke other university regulations while
drinking, there may be disciplinary consequences to those violations.
Why should I call EMS?
Even if your friend has thrown up, his blood alcohol content (BAC)
may still be rising as the alcohol left in his digestive track enters
his bloodstream. He could choke on his own vomit if he vomits in
his sleep, or he could stop breathing when his BAC gets high enough
to depress his central nervous system. EMS conducts an extensive
medical examination to determine if your friend needs to go to Health
Services or to the hospital. Don't take a chance with someone's
life.
Is
EMS free?
Brown EMS is a free service provided by the university. This is
the case no matter how many times you call EMS. In rare cases, when
Brown EMS is already on a call, Providence Rescue may be called
to evaluate and treat an intoxicated student. In these situations,
the student is responsible for the expense of the ambulance and
the treatment.
Most
of the time Brown EMS and University Health Services are able to
treat the student at no cost. When a student needs to go to the
hospital for emergency care, any emergency room and hospital charges
are the responsibility of the student. Sometimes insurance will
cover these costs but you need to check with your insurance company.
You can contact the Office of Risk Management at 863-1703 for information
on your insurance coverage.
Why
do Public Safety officers accompany EMS?
Public Safety accompanies EMS for 2 reasons: to provide access to
the building and to provide protection for the EMTs. This allows
EMS to focus on treating the patient.
Public
Safety officers are required to file an incident report whenever
they are called. This report is NOT the same as an EMS report. EMS
is a part of Health Services, and all EMS reports and procedures
are confidential.
Will
there be any follow-up to calling EMS?
Yes, any time a student receives medical care for intoxication or
injury as a result of alcohol or other drug use, the student is
referred for a required follow-up appointment with Health Education,
which is part of Health Services
These
appointments are strictly confidential. Just like EMS and Health
Services, Health Education cannot release any information without
a patient's written permission. The purpose of these appointments
is to provide educational information about alcohol and other drugs,
discuss the student's risks based on their pattern of use and work
with the student to make safer choices.
When
are there disciplinary consequences?
If a student violates University policies (offenses like fighting,
vandalism, injuring others) while under the influence of alcohol
or other drugs, this is cause for disciplinary action. "I was
drunk, I didn't know what I was doing" is not an acceptable
excuse for this sort of violation.
For more
information about Brown
EMS follow this link.
If
you need emergency medical help call 863-4111.
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