Be Safe and Pace

Be Safe and Pace

What is a Blackout?

Blackouts are a form of alcohol-related memory loss. They occur when people have no memory of what happened while intoxicated, due to alcohol disrupting the brain’s ability to form new memories.
During a blackout, someone may appear fine to others; however, the next day they cannot remember parts of the night and what they did.
Brown Outs are partial blackouts, and are typically more common, but occur in the same way and the same precautions should be taken.

What Causes a Blackout?

Who is more prone to blacking out?

Females are more prone than males for blacking out, due to reasons such as “differences in body weight and proportion of body fat”.

What are the risks to blacking out?

Someone may engage in multiple activities they will not recall the next day including fighting, driving a vehicle, spending money, and sexual intercourse
The blacked out individual can potentially put themselves and others in danger.
Decreased ability to make judgments and disruption in decision-making and impulse control.

How to avoid a Blackout:

PACE YOURSELF. Blackouts occur based on how fast you drink, not how much you drink.
EAT BEFORE DRINK in order to close the pyloric valve in your stomach that allows for alcohol to quickly enter your small intestine and get into your bloodstream
Between every alcoholic drink, DRINK WATER in order to keep up a steady pace. This will also help to prevent alcohol-related sickness and hangovers.

How to help someone who you think is blacked out:

It is important to remember that there is no sure way to tell if someone is blacked out. While some people may be belligerent, others may be able to function normally when blacked out.
A trick if you think someone is blacked out is to tell them three random words like “shoe, cat, lunchbox” and ask them to remember them. After 10 minutes, ask them what the three words were. Usually a blacked out individual cannot recall the words.
Give the person food, water, and make sure they get home safely.

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