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You’re at a party, the music is finally winding down, and you realize your friend hasn't moved from the armchair in forty minutes. Their chin is on their chest. They’re breathing, but they look heavy—dangerously heavy. Your first instinct is probably to shake them or maybe splash some cold water on their face like you see in the movies. Don't do that. Honestly, most of the "classic" ways people try to handle this are actually pretty dangerous.
Knowing how do you wake up a drunk person isn't just about ending the party; it’s about making sure they actually wake up the next morning. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. It slows down everything—heart rate, breathing, and the gag reflex. When someone is "passed out," they aren't just sleeping. They are closer to being under anesthesia, and that is a precarious place to be.
The Difference Between Sleeping It Off and Overdosing
Let's get one thing straight. There is a massive, life-or-death difference between a friend who is "sleeping it off" and someone experiencing alcohol poisoning. If you can’t wake them up at all, that is a medical emergency. Period.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is very clear about the signs of alcohol overdose. You need to look for clammy skin. Look for a bluish tint around the lips or fingernails. If their breathing is slow—meaning less than eight breaths a minute—or irregular, with gaps of ten seconds between breaths, stop trying to wake them up yourself. Call 911.
Why? Because if they are that far gone, your "waking" techniques won't work. Their brain is literally struggling to tell their lungs to move.
The Sternal Rub: The Pro Method
If they seem okay but are just unresponsive, medics use something called a sternal rub. You take your knuckles, place them right in the middle of the person's chest (the breastbone), and rub hard. It hurts. It’s supposed to hurt. If a person doesn't flinch or moan or try to push your hand away during a sternal rub, they are in deep trouble.
Common Mistakes That Can Actually Kill Someone
We’ve all seen the tropes. Someone gets a bucket of ice water dumped on them, or they get forced into a cold shower. This is a terrible idea. Alcohol already lowers the body’s core temperature. Throwing cold water on a severely intoxicated person can trigger a shock to the system or contribute to hypothermia. Plus, it makes everything slippery and increases the risk of a fall or drowning in a tub.
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Another big one? Giving them coffee.
Caffeine might make them "alert," but it doesn't make them sober. It actually dehydrates the body even more. Worse, it can give a person a false sense of sobriety, making them think they’re fine to drive when their motor skills are still completely trashed.
And for the love of everything, never, ever try to "walk it off." If someone is so drunk they can't stay awake, their coordination is zero. Forcing them to stand up and walk just leads to head injuries. You're basically trying to puppet a 150-pound weight that can't hold its own neck up.
The Danger of the "Gag Reflex"
A lot of people think the solution is to make the person vomit.
"Just get it out of their system," they say.
No.
When someone is semi-conscious, their gag reflex is suppressed. If you induce vomiting, there is a very high chance they will inhale that vomit into their lungs. This is called aspiration, and it can lead to fatal lung infections or immediate choking.
The Bacchus Maneuver: The Only Way They Should Sleep
If you’ve determined they don’t need an ambulance yet, but they keep drifting back to sleep, you have to position them correctly. This is called the Recovery Position, or sometimes the Bacchus Maneuver.
- Lay them on their side.
- Cross their top leg over so their knee touches the ground. This "anchors" them so they don't roll onto their stomach or back.
- Put their top hand under their head.
- Tilt the chin up to keep the airway open.
This position ensures that if they do vomit in their sleep, it drains out of their mouth instead of down their throat. You’ve probably heard of famous musicians who died because they "choked on their own vomit." Almost every single one of those deaths was preventable if someone had just rolled them onto their side.
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How Do You Wake Up a Drunk Person Safely?
When you are trying to figure out how do you wake up a drunk person, start with your voice. Loudly call their name. Use a "parent voice"—firm and commanding. If that doesn't work, try a light pinch on the back of the arm or the earlobe. The goal is to see if they can respond to stimuli.
If they do wake up, keep them talking. Ask them simple questions. What is your middle name? Where do you live? If they are talking but incoherent, they aren't out of the woods.
You also need to monitor them. You can't just put them in the recovery position and go to bed yourself. Alcohol levels in the blood can continue to rise even after someone stops drinking because the stomach is still processing what’s already in there. Someone who seems "fine" at 2:00 AM could be in respiratory arrest by 3:00 AM.
Hydration and Sugar
If they are conscious enough to swallow, give them water. Small sips. If they have been vomiting, they are losing electrolytes. Some experts suggest a bit of fruit juice because the fructose can help the body metabolize alcohol slightly faster, though the effect isn't a miracle cure.
Avoid "hangover cures" or pills. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a nightmare for a liver that is already busy processing a ton of ethanol. Combining the two can lead to serious liver damage. If they have a headache, they’ll have to wait until they are sober for meds.
When to Stop Being a Friend and Start Being a First Responder
It’s awkward to call 911. Nobody wants to be the "buzzkill" or get their friend in trouble. But here’s the reality: if you’re asking yourself "should I call?" the answer is usually yes.
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In many places, there are "Good Samaritan" laws that protect people who call for medical help during an alcohol or drug emergency. You won't get arrested for underage drinking if you’re calling to save a life.
Check their "Vitals" mentally:
- Skin: Is it pale, blue, or cold?
- Breathing: Is it slow or irregular?
- Response: Do they react to a hard pinch or a sternal rub?
- Vomiting: Are they throwing up while unconscious?
If any of those are "yes," the time for home remedies is over.
Actionable Steps for the Next Few Hours
So, you've managed to get them somewhat awake. What now?
- Stay in the room. Don't leave them alone to "sleep it off" in a locked bedroom.
- Check breathing every 15 minutes. Literally watch their chest rise and fall.
- Keep them on their side. If they roll onto their back, roll them back immediately.
- No more liquids if they are nodding off. You don't want them to choke on water either.
- Don't let them drive. This sounds obvious, but a semi-awake drunk person often becomes incredibly stubborn about "just getting home." Take the keys. Hide them.
The process of waking someone up isn't a one-time event; it's a multi-hour commitment to their safety. It's frustrating and scary, but being the person who knows what to do makes you the most important person in the room.