Safety and Infection ControlQuestion 933 of 2368
A nurse teaches friends of a person who drank heavily and is now unconscious. Which instruction is correct?
- Let the person sleep it off, then check on them in the morning
- Give coffee to wake the person
- Lay the person flat on their back
- Do not leave the person alone; roll them onto one side if vomiting begins
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Correct answer: Do not leave the person alone; roll them onto one side if vomiting begins
High alcohol levels weaken the gag reflex, so the person can aspirate vomit. They need emergency help and positioning to protect the airway.
Source: Nursing Health Promotion (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2025), Maladaptive Coping Behaviors: Recognizing Alcohol Overdose. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Safety and Infection Control"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026