Facts on Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol, while socially acceptable and fine in moderation, is a dangerous substance. Irresponsible alcohol consumption is the force behind many a traffic accident, injury, addiction and death. In the case of binge drinkers and heavy partiers, there is a particularly dangerous entity known as alcohol poisoning. Tricky to detect and potentially deadly, it is important for people to understand the dangers and signs of alcohol poisoning, as it may one day help to save a life.

What is Alcohol Poisoning?

• Many people don't stop to realize that ethyl alcohol is regarded as a toxin by the human body. Alcohol poisoning occurs when too much ethyl alchohol is consumed by an individual in a short amount of time, giving the body no time to naturally cleanse the toxins absorbed into the bloodstream. Because alcohol is a natural depressant, the real danger comes from the potential cessation of vital functions like breathing, gag reflex and heart rate. These involuntary functions are all controlled by the central nervous system, a system that can be severely impaired by an overdose of ethyl alcohol.

Signs and Symptoms

• One of the biggest dangers of alcohol poisoning is that it can be hard to tell the difference between "had a few too many" and "dangerously ill," especially since those making the judgment call have usually been drinking as well. Here are some of the most prominent warnings that a person may have alcohol poisoning:

  1. Paleness, or pale skin with a blue tinge (indicates lack of oxygen)
  2. Unconsciousness (a person has "passed out" and cannot be roused)
  3. Slowness of respiration (less than eight breaths taken per minute)
  4. Seizures
  5. Below-average body temperature
  6. Excessive vomiting (vomiting is the body's natural poison control; it is trying to purge the toxins out of the system before they can enter the bloodstream)

What Not to Do

• 1. If a person is suspected of having alcohol poisoning, it is NEVER a good idea to leave them unconscious to "sleep it off." Alcohol can continue to enter the bloodstream after a person has passed out, elevating the risk of serious injury or death.
  2. Do not induce vomiting. A person with alcohol poisoning may have a depressed gag reflex, which means she can choke. The person could also get vomit into his lungs, causing asphyxiation.

  3. Do not wait for all of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning to be present before taking action. If a person is being fatally poisoned, time is of the essence.

  4. Do not waste time with useless methods like feeding the person black coffee or putting her into a cold shower. Fatal levels of alcohol should only be treated with medical attention.

What to Do

• The most important thing to do is call 911 for emergency medical assistance. Guessing the level of drunkenness to determine if help should be called will only succeed in wasting precious minutes. Have as much detailed information as possible for the dispatcher, such as time frame, amount of alcohol consumed and type or types of alcohol consumed. Stay with the person at all times until professional help arrives.

Statistics

• It is estimated that nearly 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported each year in the United States. More disturbingly, approximately once per week, a person dies as a result of alcohol poisoning. Teens and young adults are the most likely to fall victim to this harmful phenomenon. This is due in part to things like hazing, binge drinking and drinking games.