Case 3

A 23-year-old man is a pre-alert by the paramedics. He is a known alcoholic and has been found unconscious by his partner, who phoned for the ambulance.

Within the previous 12 hours he had met with friends and binged heavily on spirits – his partner estimated he had drunk at least three bottles of vodka. He had since been vomiting profusely – there is no sign of aspiration.