Having an alcoholic drink socially with family and friends every couple of days or once a week is usually normal and fine for the average adult. The danger is when the socially drinking becomes a habit to the point of having a drink every night or binge drinking not realizing the risk of consuming too much alcohol in a short period of time. Alcohol poisoning is dangerous and not understanding how to get alcohol poisoning and recognizing the need for medical help could lead to death.
Alcohol poisoning is when excessive alcohol enters the blood stream which then affects the brain shutting down major bodily functions the brain controls such as breathing, heart rate, and body temperature. Alcohol poisoning doesn't happen with the intention of becoming seriously ill resulting the need for medical attention, but it does happen with lifestyle choices related to alcohol consumption. Consuming large amounts of alcohol such as beer, wine, hard liquor, and even household products such as mouthwash in a short period of time leads to alcohol poisoning which is called binge drinking. Combining alcohol with certain medications such as an opioid (Hydrocodone), sleeping aides (Ambien), or anti-anxiety (Ativan) can lead to overdose because medications as these already depress the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Drinking on an empty stomach also increases alcohol poisoning because the small intestine absorbs alcohol quickly, so food slows down alcohol from reaching the small intestine.
How do you recognize when someone has alcohol poisoning and to seek medical attention? Signs and symptoms to watch for are:
Confusion
Vomiting
Trouble staying awake
Slow and irregular breathing
Slow heart rate
No bowel or bladder control
Low body temperature and cold skin
Seizures
Now knowing the signs and symptoms of someone experiencing alcohol poisoning, there are several things to do to help them. Seek help immediately by alerting emergency health responders. Keep the person awake and prevent choking by keeping them on their side. Explain your actions because someone under heavy alcohol influence can become belligerent. Provide water if they are awake to keep them hydrated but don't give them anything if they are unconscious. Lastly keep them warm by covering them up with a blanket because their body temperature will be low. When the person receives medical attention the healthcare staff will administer IV fluids to help with dehydration and oxygen supplementation to help with irregular breathing. The healthcare staff could also preform procedures such as stomach pumping by using a tube to pump out the toxins and blood filtration if the kidneys struggle to function by placing the person on dialysis to filter alcohol in the blood stream.
Now understanding how deadly alcohol poisoning is, it is important to know how to prevent getting alcohol poisoning. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. If you are at a party with a friend, watch how much you consume, what you consume, and how much your friend is drinking as well. Hard liquor, such as shots, has a higher alcohol content then beer so not monitoring what alcohol you consume can increase the risk of alcohol poisoning. If your friend is drinking too much, intervene by distraction or by offering food and water. Moderation is important and you should not consume more than one alcohol-containing beverage in an hour. Avoid drinking games because they can relate to binge drinking. Stay hydrated, eat first before consuming alcohol, and be aware of what you drink. Lastly, the most important thing is to always remember to never drink and drive.
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Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board