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Original poster

Please help, should I take him to hospital?

261 replies

ohnopleasenotthis · 11/08/2019 19:29

My neighbours have just knocked and told us that our 14yo son was unconscious on the ground outside our house - we rushed out and he's clearly been drinking HUGE amounts of alcohol Sad he's wet himself, he's now regained consciousness and vomited copiously, he can't stand unaided and he's barely able to talk. Is also being quite aggressive and wont let his dad bring him into the house. Not able to tell us how much he's had or what it was.

Obviously he's in shit so deep he'll probably never get out Angry but should we take him to hospital? DH wants to put him to bed (not sure how!) but I'm worried about choking on vomit and/or alcohol poisoning.

OP posts:
gingergiraffe · 11/08/2019 20:27

Surprised they did not take him to hospital to monitor his oxygen levels and put him on a saline drip. This would certainly lessen his hangover tomorrow. These things happen. Many years ago on Christmas Day while staying with family my 12 year old dd and 13 year old niece decided to drink a huge amount of wine while the rest of the family were obliviously watching tv in another room, not even drinking. They were kept in hospital overnight. We were so embarrassed but hospital staff brilliant. Social services were certainly not informed. He will feel awful tomorrow but it should put him off alcohol for a few years I would think.

Original poster
ohnopleasenotthis · 11/08/2019 20:27

I don't blame them, it's entirely self-inflicted and he was pretty foul-mouthed while they were assessing him.

SS have contacted us once before unfortunately, due to our other child having MH issues and self-harming (we took dc to hospital for emergency assessment). They closed it immediately, but I guess it doesn't look good with this happening now.

OP posts:
pictish · 11/08/2019 20:27

I’m not surprised they left him.

Bumbags · 11/08/2019 20:28

Where did you think he was and what did you think he was doing?

Curious not judging.

munemema · 11/08/2019 20:28

Didn't they do anything to establish what he'd actually had OP?

I guess they see a lot of drunks and will know one when they see one.

I can't see SS being in the least bit interested. We can't get them to take an interest in teenagers who have nowhere to stay and are clearly CSE victims. A 14yo who's never had any other concerns but gets stupid drunk on one occasion isn't going to feature anywhere for them.

iMatter · 11/08/2019 20:29

Blimey. I'm surprised the paramedics did that.

He might have had a brain injury or taken an o/d. He's a 14 year old child ffs.

millmoo · 11/08/2019 20:31

I’m surprised that they left him Shock especially if he’s been unconscious.
SS won’t be interested OP they might pop out for a visit because paramedics have been out and they will have to file a report but they won’t take any further action

Alarmclockstop · 11/08/2019 20:31

Of course they are unfriendly, they spend their time trying to save lives and this is self inflicted and a waste of an ambulance. Of course he is unconscious he's pissed.

Op the above is not for you, in understand the difficult position you were in. Just keep watch on him and bollock him when he comes round.

Wobblywibblywoo · 11/08/2019 20:31

Yes definitely

MotherofDragonsandPigs · 11/08/2019 20:31

I did the same when I was 14. My parents were shocked as I was the model child until then, and obviously furious too. I was taken home in an ambulance, the social services weren't involved at any point. I went on to do 2 degrees, maybe as I couldn't face alcohol again for a decade!

OhTheRoses · 11/08/2019 20:32

I'm glad you had a good experience, Pictish. They were utterly vile to me.

OhTheRoses · 11/08/2019 20:34

Post about 2014/15 referrals to SS have been pretty much automatic btw so may I suggest that comparisons with years ago aren't drawn.

KitKat1985 · 11/08/2019 20:34

Sorry to hear the ambulance were unfriendly OP. How is your son doing now? Can you get him to sip some water?

didkdt · 11/08/2019 20:34

I think they came out promptly
Did the same triage process A&E would have done and made a judgement call.
They didn't take him in and they didn't use very stretched A&E resources to assess and observe him
Hopefully all being well this is a win all round
But I agree that photos of him in this state may help prevent a reoccurrence

YeOldeTrout · 11/08/2019 20:35

Sorry this has happened. I've only had one paralytic teenager. It's pretty worrying. My teen swore never to touch tequila again

Knowing how paramedics assessed it is useful to others. Let us know what happens over next few days.

Notthebradybunch · 11/08/2019 20:36

Yes, take him asap!

Sexnotgender · 11/08/2019 20:37

Guess you’ve got a long night ahead of you. Hope he’s ok.

catwithnohat · 11/08/2019 20:37

Have to say I've little sympathy. I did much the same at 14, practically the same performance minus the ambulance and paramedics.

I was in the parental doghouse for so long after, but more to the point, I felt so ill for a week after I've never forgotten it and never repeated the experience.

Just btw, I didn't pee in the bed either [hmmm]

VenusTiger · 11/08/2019 20:39

Hope you’re (and he is) okay OP - did you video him to show him after! He needs to see the reality of drink!

Hecateh · 11/08/2019 20:42

My daughter and 2 friends got drunk when they were 14.
My daughter and friend one were allowed occasional small amounts of alcohol at home. Friend 2 was not allowed any alcohol.
They bought 3 bottles of 20-20 (gives you some idea of how long ago). Daughter and friend 1 drank about 1/2 to 2/3 a bottle each, realised they had had enough and stopped. Friend 3 carried on, finished her own bottle and then started on theirs.
She got very drunk, aggressive and then was doubly incontinent and barely conscious.

Daughter and friend 1 called an ambulance which took her to hospital, they gave the ambulance her mum's contact info.
She had her stomach pumped before being allowed home.
Her mum blamed my daughter and friend 1.

Although they had all been irresponsible, at least daughter and friend 1 were not stupid -AND at least they didn't just dump her and run despite being quite drunk themselves.

pictish · 11/08/2019 20:44

They were fine with me. I’m in Scotland so don’t know if our policies differ on that front.

orangeshoebox · 11/08/2019 20:48

op
if he doesn't improve soon please take him to a&e

keep him lying on his side. sit him up every 20 min for a sip of water. check his breathing and temperature.

Seaweed42 · 11/08/2019 20:49

Did you contact the friends parents and talk to them?

Winterlife · 11/08/2019 20:49

Can you drive him to hospital?

I'd be filming him, to show him his behaviour once he's sober.

hanahsaunt · 11/08/2019 20:52

Scottish dr friends have suggested that they do nothing to minimise the hangover consequences as it's a useful learning tool; very pragmatic approach ensuring no harm but not necessarily making it better.