’Twas the eve of Unofficial. Ladies and gentlemen clad in unabashed green, with blue and orange blood coursing through their veins, sleep an extra 12 hours to prepare for the earliest morning thus far in the year 2013. The Illini-at-heart make the annual pilgrimage dozens, hundreds and thousands of miles to the Mecca of collegiate boozedom, arm-in-arm, ready to celebrate in drunken unison.

T-shirts donning the timeless four-leaf clover have been ironed out; the Bailey’s is sitting right next to the coffee pot; the batches of pancake mix and green dye have been placed strategically next to the wine cooler. 

All of these pertinent details shape the kind of Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day we observe — affect how we enjoy ourselves, each other and the community’s spirit that makes Champaign-Urbana this time of year so unique. But as important as it is to prepare ourselves for the festivities and shenanigans of this most inebriated of days, it is even more critical to be able to identify when it goes awry — namely, if you cross paths with an incident of alcohol poisoning. 

Unofficial has been responsible for innumerable cases of hospitalizations, injuries and at least two deaths. Since its start in 1996, the holiday of sorts has raised the bar on its level of intoxication, and Northwestern University’s Dillo Day, Mardi Gras in St. Louis or Penn State’s “State Patty’s Day” have rivaled this all-Illinoisan day — which is what makes it especially important to know how to recognize the symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

According to a 2009 study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington and published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, those suffering from alcohol poisoning are most likely to turn to peers or parents for help. The study asserts that legislation and policing that couples the incorporation of peers and parents’ intervention and offering medical amnesty to its underage drinkers are likely to be more successful than either alone. 

Already, the University, Champaign and Urbana police departments have non-written but widely understood procedures on providing medical amnesty to students, and state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson has introduced a state bill to officiate it everywhere in Illinois. The key now rests with our understanding of alcohol poisoning and our ability to provide assistance if need be.

So, without further ado — here’s a laundry list of symptoms to be on the lookout for, as compiled by Mayo Clinic:

-Low body temperature, blue or pale skin 

-Vomiting (To avoid the individual from choking, be sure to turn him on his side — something Walter White wouldn’t do, apparently.)

-Slowed breathing (less than eight breaths a minute) or irregular breathing

-Unconsciousness

If a person is exhibiting any of these signs, call 911 and do not leave him or her alone. 

If you want to access more information regarding drinking regulations and other factoids for the day (which are largely the same as last year), you can check out the Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day Facebook page. The consequences are steep, and the police will be extra vigilant, especially because hosts who knowingly provide alcohol to underage persons will receive a Class 4 felony violation. But these new policies for Unofficial should not impede anyone’s ability to receive help if needed or to administer aid. Be aware, be conscious of these signs of alcohol poisoning — and then enjoy it.

Have a safe one, everyone!

Nora is a senior in LAS. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @NoraAIbrahim.