BRITS are being urged to look out for the signs of spiking to help anyone affected during the Christmas party season.
Spiking is the act of giving someone alcohol or drugs without their knowledge or consent.
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With Christmas party season underway, St John Ambulance is urging people to learn the “spiking first aid” basics so they know what to do when out with pals.
Knowing what to do in instances of spiking could be life-saving.
Spiking can involve putting alcohol or drugs into drinks.
It can also come in the form of needle spiking, where people are injected.
Read more on Christmas alcohol
There’s also vape or cigarette spiking, where drugs are put into these products.
Spotting symptoms of spiking is the first step – look out for the following nine signs:
- Feeling drunk or drowsy
- Being ‘out of it’ or more drunk than expected
- Mental confusion
- Slurred speech
- Memory loss
- Loss of inhibitions
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Breathing problems
Victims may also suffer muscle spasms or seizures, loss of consciousness or a severe hangover after drinking little or no alcohol.
In new advice, St John Ambulance says victims should be kept hydrated by encouraging them to drink water little and often, put in a safe place and always have somebody with them.
If a person thinks they have been spiked, they or a friend should alert bar staff and the police, including reporting any suspicious behaviour.
If the victim becomes unresponsive, put them into the recovery position and call an ambulance.
Members of the public should also know how to do CPR in case somebody stops breathing.
23 per cent of 18 to 43-year-olds ‘definitely’ been spiked
A poll of 2,000 people across the UK for St John’s new Switch on to Spiking campaign, found 23 per cent of those aged 18-43 felt they had “definitely” been spiked.
This rose to 41 per cent when those who believed they had “possibly” been spiked were added.
Eve Adams was 19 when she was spiked
Eve Adams was at a club in Chester on a night out with her twin sister, Lauren, when she ended up in hospital.
She said: “I felt like I had been hit by a bus. Every muscle in my body ached. It was so incredibly painful. I had brain fog.
“The headache lasted for weeks, like a never-ending hangover. I was still being sick three days later.
“I don’t know what happened that night. I question myself if I was just drunk, but I know deep down I wasn’t and everyone around me knows I wasn’t.”
The organisation’s medical director, Dr Lynn Thomas, said: “Our latest research shows this awful crime continues to blight people’s social lives when they are simply wanting to go out and enjoy time together.
“While we fully support all efforts to prevent and prosecute spiking incidents, St John aims to teach people how to care for one another when the worst happens.
“Recognising the symptoms of spiking is a critical first step in that care and will help protect victims from further harm.
“Staying with a spiking victim, monitoring them and being ready to give first aid could save their life.
“We’re urging people to equip themselves with that knowledge.”
To learn more, visit Switch on to Spiking.
How to avoid drink spiking
Drink spiking can happen in any situation, at home or on a night out. But there are a few things you can do to protect yourself:
- Never leave your drink unattended, whether it’s alcoholic or not
- Don’t accept a drink from someone you don’t know
- Avoid drinking too much by sticking to the UK low risk drinking guidelines
- Stick together with friends, and look out for each other
Source: Drinkaware
