Many like to drink one or more drinks from time to time, but abusing quantities in a limited period of time can cause alcohol intoxication, hindering the proper functioning of the body and causing, in the most extreme cases, even the death. By learning to drink responsibly and to recognize and treat alcohol intoxication you can safeguard your health and that of others.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning
Step 1. Become aware of the risks you run by drinking
Alcohol intoxication is often a consequence of "binge drinking", that is, having a lot of alcoholic beverages in a limited period of time (usually at least four drinks for women and five for men within two hours). However, there are several other elements that can increase the risk of developing this pathology, including for example:
- Physical constitution, weight and general health;
- Being fasted for a few hours;
- The use of drugs or medications;
- The alcohol content of the drinks consumed;
- The quality and frequency at which the drinks are taken;
- The level of personal alcohol tolerance, which can drop significantly in case of high temperature, dehydration or physical fatigue.
Step 2. Watch the quantities
Do your best to keep an eye on the number of drinks consumed not only by you, but by those around you as well. Doing so will make it easier for you to recognize any signs of alcohol intoxication and to properly notify medical personnel if necessary. In addition, you can try to minimize the risk of the problem occurring. Remember that a "drink" is equivalent to:
- 350 ml of common beer, with an alcohol content of about 5%;
- 240-265 ml of any beverage with an alcohol content of approximately 7%;
- 150 ml of wine, with an alcohol content of about 12%;
- 45 ml of any spirits, or any beverage that contains an amount of alcohol greater than 21%. Examples of spirits include gin, rum, tequila, whiskey, and vodka.
Step 3. Analyze physical symptoms
Alcohol intoxication often presents specific physical ailments to which it is good to pay attention. Note that it is not at all necessary for them to all appear together in order to determine a state of intoxication. Such symptoms include:
- He retched;
- Convulsions;
- Slow breathing (less than 8 breaths per minute);
- Irregular breathing (no breathing for more than 10 seconds);
- Pale or bluish skin
- Hypothermia or low body temperature
- Loss of consciousness.
Step 4. Detect cognitive symptoms
In addition to physical symptoms, alcohol intoxication can also cause some impairments in cognitive function. In particular, notice if you or someone else have the following complaints:
- Mental confusion;
- Failure to react to stimuli;
- Coma or unconsciousness
- Inability to wake up
- Loss of orientation or balance.
Step 5. Seek help immediately
Alcohol intoxication is a real health emergency that can have serious consequences, including death. If you suspect that a person has overdosed on alcohol, stop them promptly and call the emergency service right away. Underestimating the symptoms could have tragic consequences, for example:
- Death from suffocation during vomiting;
- Intermittent or absent breathing;
- Cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat);
- Absence of heartbeat;
- Hypothermia or low body temperature
- Hypoglycemia (rapid lowering of blood sugar, which can cause seizures);
- Severe dehydration due to vomiting, the consequences of which can be seizures, permanent brain damage and even death
- Acute pancreatitis;
- Death.
Part 2 of 3: Treating Alcohol Poisoning
Step 1. Call the emergency service immediately
Call an ambulance or take the person to the nearest emergency room right away if you suspect they may have alcohol poisoning, even if they don't have the common symptoms of the condition. Only in this way will you be sure that he receives all the necessary care to try to prevent more serious ailments from occurring or death.
- Do not get behind the wheel if you have had alcoholic beverages. Call 911 or a taxi to be rushed to the hospital urgently.
- Provide all the necessary information to the medical staff, so that they can best treat the person who is sick. The most important indications include the quantity and type of alcohol consumed, as well as the timing of consumption.
- If you are afraid to call the emergency service because you or a friend of yours have been drinking alcohol while being a minor, put your doubts aside and seek immediate help. Even if you're afraid you might get in trouble with law enforcement or your parents because you are under the legal drinking age, understand that the consequences of failing to help could be considerably more serious, including death.
Step 2. Monitor the person's condition until medical personnel arrive
While you are waiting for the ambulance to arrive or to get to the hospital, monitor the person if you suspect they may have alcohol poisoning. Inspecting their symptoms and bodily functions can help prevent more serious consequences or death; in addition, it will give you the opportunity to provide precise indications to the medical staff.
Step 3. Stay next to the unconscious person
If someone has fainted after abusing alcoholic beverages, stay with them at all times. This way you can make sure that you don't risk choking by throwing up or noticing if you have difficulty breathing.
- Do not force the person to vomit, or they may run the risk of choking.
- If she becomes unconscious, turn her on her side, placing her in the safety lateral position, to minimize the risk of her choking and vomiting.
Step 4. Help her in case of vomiting
If the person who may have alcohol poisoning vomits, it is important to try to make them sit up. This will reduce the risk of dying from suffocation.
- If she can't sit up, turn her to her side in the safety side position so she doesn't risk choking.
- Try to keep her awake to minimize the risk of her unconscious.
- Make her drink water to reduce the risk of dehydration in the body.
Step 5. Try to keep her warm
Cover her with a blanket, coat, or anything that can help keep her warm. Doing this is to keep her in a comfortable condition and to minimize the risk of her losing consciousness or going into shock.
Step 6. Avoid inappropriate "remedies"
There are some common practices used to help a person feel better after drinking too much, but in addition to being ineffective, they can even be harmful. The following remedies will not relieve symptoms and may even make the situation worse:
- Drink coffee;
- Take a cold shower;
- Walk;
- Drink more alcohol.
Step 7. Get the necessary care in the hospital
Once you reach the emergency room, medical staff will assess what conditions and interventions are needed to treat alcohol intoxication. Doctors will manage the symptoms and keep the patient constantly monitored. Possible cures for alcohol intoxication include:
- Insertion of a tube into the trachea (intubation) through which it is possible to oxygenate the patient's lungs and remove any obstructions.
- Insertion of a drip into a vein to regulate the body's hydration level and vitamins and blood sugars.
- Inserting a catheter into the bladder.
- Gastric lavage through a tube inserted into the mouth or nose (the stomach is first emptied and then "washed" to remove toxic substances).
- Oxygen therapy.
- Hemodialysis, or the "cleaning" of the blood through a filtering system aimed at eliminating toxins from the body.
Part 3 of 3: Drinking Responsibly
Step 1. Understand the consequences of drinking alcohol
Over time, the body increases its tolerance level to alcohol and runs the risk of becoming dependent on it. Drinking wisely and in moderate quantities allows you to enjoy alcohol without risking an addiction.
- Alcohol tolerance usually develops over the years; in practice, the body adapts to drinking specific amounts of alcohol, for example a beer or a glass of wine.
- Addiction is characterized by regular and compulsive alcohol consumption, which ends up becoming the person's sole interest.
Step 2. Assess your tolerance level
Find out how much alcohol your body can handle. Knowing what your limits are may help you not to overdo it, preventing the risk of alcohol intoxication.
Based on the amount of alcohol you currently consume. For example, if you are a teetotaler or have a habit of drinking only a couple of drinks a week, your tolerance is relatively low. If you drink more, your tolerance varies proportionally
Step 3. Use common sense
Try to strictly follow the guidelines recommended by health experts to avoid the risk of developing an addiction or suffering from alcohol intoxication.
- Women should consume a maximum of 2-3 alcohol units per day.
- Men should not exceed the limit of 3-4 alcohol units per day.
- An alcohol unit corresponds to about 12 g of ethanol, therefore the quantities allowed vary according to the alcohol percentage of each drink. To give a practical example, a bottle of wine corresponds to about 9-10 alcoholic units.
- Be cautious on occasions when you decide to indulge in an extra drink or two than usual. In any case, never exceed the limits dictated by the guidelines. If you are a teetotaler, treat yourself to a single drink, preferably in half the dose. In general, if you want to drink wine or liqueur, try not to exceed the dose of a glass and a half or two.
- Drink water between drinks to keep your body properly hydrated. Since when we are in a group we tend to imitate others, having something to drink will also help you not to feel left out.
Step 4. Don't keep drinking for a long time
Keep track of how many drinks you have and stop immediately if you are not sure how much you have drunk. It is important to try to avoid getting drunk, or worse, developing alcohol intoxication. It may be helpful to set a time by which you will stop drinking. For example, if you plan to spend an evening with friends, you can decide not to drink alcohol after midnight.
Step 5. Program of alcohol-free days
Consider refraining from drinking alcohol at least two days a week. This practice can help you minimize the risk of developing an addiction, while also allowing your body to work off what you've been drinking in the previous days.
Failing to avoid drinking alcohol for a day could indicate that you are already addicted. If you feel you can't give up drinking, ask your doctor or someone you trust for help
Step 6. Find out what the risks and dangers of alcohol are
Whenever you take an alcoholic drink, you risk damaging your health. The only way to avoid any negative consequences is to not drink at all: the more you drink, the greater the risks you put on your body.
- Alcohol tolerance does not protect you at all from the damage caused by this substance.
- The negative effects of alcohol are numerous, including weight gain, depression, skin problems and short-term memory loss.
- In the long run, alcohol consumption could cause high blood pressure, chronic liver disease, and breast cancer.
Advice
If you are concerned that you or someone else may have alcohol poisoning, call the emergency medical service right away
Warnings
- Never leave a person alone while they are unconscious with the intent of letting them "sober up".
- Be careful not to have a lot of alcoholic beverages in a limited amount of time, and if you feel like someone is overdoing it, try to stop it before it reaches a level of alcohol intoxication.
- Do not try to treat alcohol intoxication on your own, it is imperative to seek medical attention.
