Facts About Alcohol Poisoning
Excessive drinking can be hazardous to everyone's health!
It can be particularly stressful if you are the sober one taking care of your
drunk roommate, who is vomiting while you are trying to study for an exam.
Some people laugh at the behavior of others who are drunk.
Some think it's even funnier when they pass out. But there is nothing funny
about the aspiration of vomit leading to asphyxiation or the poisoning of the
respiratory center in the brain, both of which can result in death.
Do you know about the dangers of alcohol poisoning? When
should you seek professional help for a friend? Sadly enough, too many college
students say they wish they would have sought medical treatment for a friend.
Many end up feeling responsible for alcohol-related tragedies that could have
easily been prevented.
Common myths about sobering up include drinking black
coffee, taking a cold bath or shower, sleeping it off, or walking it off. But
these are just myths, and they don't work. The only thing that reverses the
effects of alcohol is time-something you may not have if you are suffering from
alcohol poisoning. And many different factors affect the level of intoxication
of an individual, so it's difficult to gauge exactly how much is too much (BAC
calculators).
What Happens to Your Body When You Get Alcohol Poisoning?
Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary actions
such as breathing and the gag reflex (which prevents choking). A fatal dose of
alcohol will eventually stop these functions.
It is common for someone who drank excessive alcohol to
vomit since alcohol is an irritant to the stomach. There is then the danger of
choking on vomit, which could cause death by asphyxiation in a person who is not
conscious because of intoxication.
You should also know that a person's blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) can continue to rise even while he or she is passed out.
Even after a person stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine
continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. It is
dangerous to assume the person will be fine by sleeping it off.
 Critical Signs for Alcohol Poisoning
- Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person
cannot be roused.
- Vomiting.
- Seizures.
- Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per
minute).
- Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more
between breaths).
- Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish
skin color, paleness.
What Should I Do If I Suspect Someone Has Alcohol
Poisoning?
- Know the danger signals.
- Do not wait for all symptoms to be present.
- Be aware that a person who has passed out may
die.
- If there is any suspicion of an alcohol
overdose, call 911 for help. Don't try to guess the level of drunkenness.
What Can Happen to Someone With Alcohol Poisoning That
Goes Untreated?
- Victim chokes on his or her own vomit.
- Breathing slows, becomes irregular, or stops.
- Heart beats irregularly or stops.
- Hypothermia (low body temperature).
- Hypoglycemia (too little blood sugar) leads to
seizures.
- Untreated severe dehydration from vomiting can
cause seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.
Even if the victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to
irreversible brain damage. Rapid binge drinking (which often happens on a bet or
a dare) is especially dangerous because the victim can ingest a fatal dose
before becoming unconscious.
Don't be afraid to seek medical help for a friend who has
had too much to drink. Don't worry that your friend may become angry or
embarrassed-remember, you cared enough to help. Always be safe, not sorry.
Related Links:
More myths about Alcohol
Alcohol & Exercise
Alcoholism: Getting the Facts
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