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feature 15
Volume 104, Issue 4
SAFE Y
Don’t mistake our caution for paranoia — Edmonton is a cool city, but here at The Gateway, we know there are easy steps you can take to enjoy a safe and satisfied year on campus. Whether you’re spending the night in with a simple game of Monopoly or heading out on the town, keep these tips in mind:
The Recovery Position Step 1: Your friend has passed out from trying to drink away his debt. Make sure you place the arm closest to you straight out from their body, above their head.
Know your limits When heading out on the town for a night of drinking, it’s good to stay in control of your evening by keeping track of how much you are consuming. Buddy up with a friend to keep an eye on one another and help to stay within your limits. Keep your eyes open Always keep your hand on your drink to ensure that no one slips anything into it. If you’ve left a drink unattended, buy a new one. Signs that you may have been drugged include sleepiness, dizziness, difficulty standing or walking, blacking out and loss of memory. If you or a friend exhibits these symptoms, get to a hospital right away.
Step 2: Take the personís far knee and gently roll them onto their side.
Get home safe Before you set out on a nighttime frolic, consider your options for a worry-free way home. Determine if you can arrange a ride with a friend, family member or agreedupon designated driver. If those aren’t available to you — and in case plans go sideways — always ensure you have enough money to catch the bus or a cab home. If you’re on campus, contact Safewalk in advance for a free service to walk you there safely. Signs of alcohol poisoning: - Severe vomiting or vomiting after passed out - Not responding after being shouted at, pinched, nudged or poked - The inability to stand up - The inability to wake up - Slow, deep, irregular breathing - Purplish, cold or clammy skin - Rapid pulse
Step 3: Position their far arm with the back of their hand against their cheek, propping their head up from the ground. Tilt their head up slightly so that the airway is open. Make sure their hand is under their cheek. This will keep their head elevated and prevent them from choking on their own vomit.
If you see any of these signs in an intoxicated person, don’t hesitate — the person’s life could be in danger. Call 9-1-1 to get help immediately, but don’t leave the person’s side in case they stop breathing. While you’re waiting for help, place them in the recovery position (Source: Alberta Health Services). Get help Emergency posts are available on campus at LRT stations, and are recognizable by glowing blue lights. Campus security will come to your aid if you press the button. To contact the Edmonton Police Service, you can call #377 for non-emergency situations. If you feel that you or someone else is in danger, dial 911 to contact them in an emergency. Hangover cures The only thing that will sober up a drinker is time, because the liver needs time to break down and eliminate the alcohol. It can take up to two hours for the body to get rid of the effects of one drink. So even if you have one drink an hour, alcohol builds up in your blood because you’re drinking faster than your body is breaking down that alcohol. Speaking of the effects of alcohol, just as there’s no remedy to sober up, there’s no cure for a hangover other than time. (Source: Alberta Health Service) But while you’re grounded waiting for the alcohol to dissipate, The Gateway recommends these remedies to make your hangover more comfortable:
Hydrate, or get some H20 all up in you Alcohol is a diuretic, a drug that makes you pee. Symptoms such as shakiness, headaches and nausea are direct correlations to dehydration, and the best cure for that is water, water, water. Better yet, sports beverages like Gatorade and Powerade contain electrolytes — so these drinks not only rehydrate you, but also help replenish the nutrients that were lost when you broke the seal the night before.
Eat something While it’ll probably be tough to keep food down, a hungover body is punishing you for the lack of water and nutrients it needs to sustain you. Aim for non-offensive foods that won’t exaggerate your nausea. For some that’s simple foods like crackers or bananas, and for others, greasy meals like a McDonalds cheeseburger have the healing power to keep their hangover demons at bay.