The last few weeks of the Spring semester are filled with excitement as classes wrap up, many prepare to graduate and numerous social events take place, including Clemson Music Festival. With all the social activity happening this time of the year, there may be times when you find yourself or others in a high-risk situation. Therefore, it’s important to take the steps below to celebrate safely.
Before you go out, PLAN AHEAD
- Choose a buddy and learn their phone number in case you can’t access your phone
- Plan how you will get home: sober driver, CATbus or rideshare
- Plan a meet-up spot in case you get separated
- Charge your phone, turn up the volume and check it frequently
- Download and familiarize yourself with the RAVE Guardian app
- Set a safety timer, so your friends know when you’ll be home
- Know the signs of alcohol poisoning:
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Slow and/or irregular breathing
- Blue or pale skin
- Low body temperature
- Unconsciousness or inability to stay conscious
- Know the signs of opioid poisoning:
- Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
- Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
- Slow, shallow breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Limp body
- Pale, blue or cold skin
- Know where to access naloxone (Narcan®) in case of an opioid poisoning emergency. This life-saving medication can reverse opioid poisoning when given in time.
- ONEbox emergency opioid overdose kits can be found on campus in high-traffic areas near trauma kits. These kits store Narcan® and play a short video on how to administer it.
- Naloxone (Narcan®) is available through Healthy Campus, the Redfern Health Center Pharmacy and local health departments to those who want to have it on-hand in case of an emergency.
- If you choose to drink:
- Plan not to exceed a certain number of drinks
- Eat before and during drinking
- Alternate with water
- Choose not to pre-game
While you’re out, STEP UP
- Socialize without needing to consume alcohol
- Hydrate with water to avoid heat exhaustion
- Check in with friends regularly
- Recognize when someone’s in trouble, and step up to help
- Call 911 if you need help to safely handle a situation
- If you choose to drink:
- Keep track of the number of drinks you consume
- Alternate with water
- Eat before and during drinking
- Watch your drink being poured and keep it with you at all times; use a lid if you can
- Know how to recognize a spiked drink
- Choose not to play drinking games
- Don’t pressure others to drink
At the end of the day, RETURN HOME SAFELY
- Never leave a friend behind
- Go with a group, don’t go alone
- Share a safe ride home with a sober driver
- If using a rideshare, Stop Ask Match Inform
- Let friends know you got home safely
- Use the safety timer in the RAVE Guardian app
- Call 911 immediately if someone is passed out and unresponsive
- Do not wait for all symptoms of alcohol poisoning to be present
- If you suspect someone has opioid poisoning, administer naloxone (Narcan®) after calling 911
- Keep the person awake and breathing
- Turn the person on their side
- Do not give the person any food or beverages
- Stay with the person until help arrives
- Remember MAP, Clemson’s Medical Amnesty Policy: students seeking assistance during an alcohol and/or drug-related emergency will not be charged or sanctioned for violations of the University’s alcohol and/or drug-related policies
Learn more about how to Celebrate Safely.