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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:
BrendasUmbrella · 11/08/2019 20:56

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.

Lessening his hangover isn't necessarily the best thing for him. Not to mention that aggressive belligerent drunks in a hospital are a nightmare.

FenellaMaxwell · 11/08/2019 20:57

It costs about £200 when an ambulance is sent out. When he sobers up, I would be making him save up every penny. As PPs have said, watch him closely but don’t do anything that will mitigate against a hangover - the worse he feels tomorrow, the less likely this will be repeated.

NotEven · 11/08/2019 20:58

OP,
Just an idea for a punishment for your son but how about him getting him to ‘pay’ for the ambulance, he could ‘donate’ the money to a relevant charity such as an air ambulance charity or a drinks awareness charity.

I seem to remember the cost of calling out an ambulance to the NHS is around £180 but not sure if that depends on the area.

NotEven · 11/08/2019 20:58

Ohh, sorry I cross posted.

Drivenmad80 · 11/08/2019 20:59

He's probably given himself alcohol poisoning. I had that as a teen after drinking an entire bottle of peach schnapps. He'll be ok. Grounded for the rest of the summer I suspect but ok. Hope he's alright xxx

saffy1234 · 11/08/2019 21:02

Im an A&E nurse and have seen so so many drunk teens.SS are only called if there's a safeguarding risk ,ie- you are both drunk and he's done it in your presence.Its very common although scary and I seriously doubt anyone would call SS.x

Jellybeansincognito · 11/08/2019 21:05

Op, ignore people saying about SS. This isn’t your fault. You cannot hold your child hostage inside and if you weren’t supporting your children to have a social life that is even more worrying.
Your son has completely disrespected your trust and his friends should be ashamed of themselves.

You need to firstly concentrate on your son, I also agree about the money. He needs to save every penny and pay it back into the system for wasting ambulance time, imagine if someone was desperate for an ambulance and died because they were too busy treating your son (the guilt is on him) it happens far too often.

You need to find out who left him at home and walked off without alerting anyone, they need to be sanctioned for their behaviour too. They essentially left him for dead.

I think you should team up with his school and get some correct support to tackle this. It is not something I’ll tolerate from either of my children. Trying alcohol will be allowed however, in my home with parents consent. I’d rather a tipsy teenager in a safe environment than them out drinking god knows what until it’s run dry and they cannot walk.

Good luck op. Don’t feel worried though, you’re not a neglectful parent unless you honestly don’t know who he was with and where.

Marzipanface · 11/08/2019 21:09

It's not a WASTE of an ambulance ffs. How were the parents supposed to know if he was raging drunk or had taken something? We are not all doctors.

I would stay up all night watching if it was one of mine, to make sure they don't choke. Roll him on his side. He'll probably feel awful tomorrow. Sorry this has happened.

HeadintheiClouds · 11/08/2019 21:13

How is he now, op?

goingdownsouth · 11/08/2019 21:14

Yes, yes yes

Seemstress · 11/08/2019 21:17

Keep chucking water down his throat every 30 mins, wake him as well. 2 of mine did this in their teens, one had taken a shed load of gear as well, I spent the night holding him by the hair so he didn't drown in his own vomit. He now has 2 babies of his own and couldn't be more different. I doubt your son will ever do this again. Keep us updated x

comfysocks8516 · 11/08/2019 21:18

Can you imagine if SS were called for every instance of a teenager drinking too much?! Don’t let people of here scare you, that’s a ridiculous comment

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 11/08/2019 21:21

I don't drink alcohol and I have little sympathy for drunks and absolutely Zero/Nada/Fuck All respect for people who drink and drive .

But before any punishment is decided , find out if there's any chance he was spiked .
Yes he shouldn't be drinking at 14 but the way his 'mates' dumped him, try and find out if there's anything going on.

Obviously if it's self inflicted then Hell Mend Him.

Original poster
ohnopleasenotthis · 11/08/2019 21:21

He's fast asleep on a futon in the dining room now, we've put a blanket over him and are checking him every few minutes. We've been in touch with the parents of the other boy involved (we've known them since the kids were at nursery, they're lovely) and the others are OK. DS seems to have drunk most of the alcohol. I'm so shaken, weirdly when the neighbour banged on the door and I saw him lying on the ground I didn't think of alcohol, I thought he'd had a stroke or something and was dead. I'm worried about being referred to SS obviously (we need to tidy the bloody house up) but mostly just hugely relieved that he's going to be OK. Little sod!

OP posts:
pictish · 11/08/2019 21:23

My son hasn’t repeated the experience so far. He’s almost 18 now. What a state he was in.

MaddieElla · 11/08/2019 21:23

You did the right thing getting medical help, I would have driven him to hospital though (unsure if you could have got him there).

Yes this is “just” a kid that’s been stupid with alcohol but he’s 14 and that is a massive assault on his body. Paramedics must have been pretty confident he would sleep it off. Just keep an eye on him. And hopefully in the morning he’ll realise what an absolute tool he’s been.

DogsandBoysmeanMud · 11/08/2019 21:24

My 14yo DS did this a few weeks ago. He and his mates lied about how much he had and I was so angry the next day as I would have taken to A&E if I'd know how much he drank. Better to be safe.

CaMePlaitPas · 11/08/2019 21:33

Give him a stern talking to won't you OP?

Justaboy · 11/08/2019 21:35

Least he got some medical attention;! Pity to see the paramedics wernt that happy, sure they've done the same when younger its all part of growing up;!

Disfordarkchocolate · 11/08/2019 21:36

Yes, alcohol poisoning is a real danger so he needs supervision.

youarenotkiddingme · 11/08/2019 21:36

Sis don't get involved unless there neglect. Even the most sensible of teens have an odd drunken night.

They also don't care how clean your house is.

Right now you need to make sure he's safe and can't choke and that he's definitely just drank alcohol, what and how much.

Bookworm4 · 11/08/2019 21:38

An ambulance was called, they attended and left all in 30 minutes, that’s amazing for a non urgent call.

GettickledGETTICKLEDbyspiders · 11/08/2019 21:38

I would be fucking livid with his ‘friends’.
I would tell their parents they left him drunk and unconscious and in danger. It was only luck that your neighbours saw.
Little shits.

TriciaH87 · 11/08/2019 21:39

Please don't be stupid. Take him to hospital NOW. At 14 my partner got himself in that state his friend called his brother who took him home. Hours later when their parents got home they were sensible which you are not being. They took him to hospital where they pumped his stomach and put him on a drip. They were told much longer and he would have died. Alcohol could be damaging his organs and cause them to shut down. He could choke on his own vomit in the night. Be sensible and get him to hospital whilst you have a child to save. Would you forgive yourself if he dies and you know you did nothing?

pictish · 11/08/2019 21:42

Wooaah chill. He’s been seen. He’s ok. Been told to sleep it off.