Party Smart
Knowing how to party smart can help keep you and your friends safe. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you plan to host or attend parties at CU.
While it may seem like partying is the norm, it’s also important to remember that not everyone parties or drinks at CU. Here are some things students say they wish they would’ve known about partying and drinking.
Alcohol
Know the signs of alcohol poisoning:
Passed out and unresponsive
Fewer than 12 breaths per minute
Vomiting while passed out
Pale/bluish or clammy/cool skin
Uncontrolled peeing and pooping
How to respond:
Make sure the person is in a safe place.
Gently turn them on their side to put them in the recovery position.
Stay with them; never leave an intoxicated person alone or with someone who isn’t a trusted friend.
Opioid overdose
Know the signs of an overdose:
Pinpoint (small) pupils
Shallow or no breathing
Blue or grayish lips/fingernails
No response to stimuli (i.e. being pinched)
Gurgling, heavy wheezing or snoring sound
How to respond:
Make sure the person is in a safe place.
Gently turn them on their side to put them in the recovery position.
Stay with them; never leave an intoxicated person alone or with someone who isn’t a trusted friend.
Administer naloxone/Narcan (it won’t harm a person who isn’t overdosing, so if in doubt, use it).
Medical Services provides Naloxone (brand name Narcan) free of charge to Buff OneCard holders through the Apothecary Pharmacy at Wardenburg Health Center. You can also find Naloxone at other locations around Boulder.
Amnesty policy
Calling for help in an alcohol- or drug-related emergency means neither the person who calls nor the person who needs help will be subject to formal disciplinary sanctions by the university (i.e. suspension, probation, expulsion).
To be covered by the amnesty policy, a student must:
- Call for help (911 or university staff).
- Stay until help arrives.
- Cooperate with staff and emergency responders.
911 Good Samaritan Law
The 911 Good Samaritan Law states that a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when the person reports, in good faith, an emergency drug or alcohol overdose even to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system, or to a medical provider.
This same immunity applies to persons who remain at the scene of the event until a law enforcement officer or an emergency medical responder arrives, or if the person remains at the facilities of the medical provider until a law enforcement officer, emergency medical responder, or medical provider arrives. The immunity described above also extends to the person who suffered the emergency drug or alcohol overdose event.