How to Handle Alcohol Poisoning Effectively

Essential first aid steps and signs that require urgent medical attention.

Table of Contents

1. When to Call Emergency Services
2. What to Do Before Help Arrives
3. Understanding Alcohol Poisoning
4. Symptoms of Mild Alcohol Intoxication
5. Self-Care Measures for Alcohol Poisoning
6. What to Avoid During Alcohol Poisoning

When to Call Emergency Services

Let's start with the most critical part: sometimes alcohol consumption can cause severe distress that requires immediate medical intervention.

Call emergency services right away if any of the following symptoms appear:

• Confusion or inability to recognize surroundings, difficulty responding coherently;
• Severe vomiting;
• Seizures;
• Slow breathing—fewer than 8 breaths per minute;
• Irregular breathing with pauses longer than 10 seconds;
• Pale or bluish skin tone;
• Low body temperature;
• Loss of consciousness or unresponsiveness, especially if the person cannot be awakened.

The last symptom is particularly dangerous, especially when combined with others. While sleep can be restorative during mild intoxication, unconsciousness in alcohol poisoning greatly increases the risk of death.

Additionally, if you suspect the person consumed toxic substances like isopropyl alcohol (found in lotions and cleaning agents), methanol, or ethylene glycol (common in antifreeze and solvents), immediate medical help is crucial. Symptoms of poisoning from these substances include:

• Difficulty breathing or respiratory arrest;
• Blurred vision or partial/full blindness;
• Sudden drop in blood pressure;
• Severe headache, dizziness, and confusion;
• Nausea and vomiting, sometimes with blood;
• Intense abdominal pain;
• Seizures;
• Loss of consciousness or coma.

What to Do While Waiting for Emergency Help

Ensure the person's safety by placing them in the recovery position: lay them on their side, bend one knee, tilt the head slightly back to keep the airway open, and tuck the upper hand under the cheek. Never leave an unconscious or semi-conscious person alone.

Cover the individual with a jacket or blanket to prevent hypothermia. Alcohol initially dilates blood vessels, causing the body to lose heat faster, which can lead to chilling. However, heavy drinking causes blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to extremities and increasing the risk of frostbite. Alcohol also impairs the body's ability to sense cold, raising the danger of severe hypothermia.

Keep the person awake and talk to them about what you are doing to prevent them from falling asleep and to reduce agitation.

If conscious, encourage them to drink water to prevent dehydration.

If vomiting occurs, help them sit up or keep their head turned to the side while lying down to avoid choking. Do not attempt to induce vomiting as it does not speed up sobriety or improve symptoms.

Be prepared to provide medical personnel with details such as what was consumed, quantity, time elapsed, age, and any pre-existing health conditions or allergies.

If no severe symptoms are present, alcohol poisoning can sometimes be managed without hospitalization. Let’s explore what alcohol poisoning entails.

Understanding Alcohol Poisoning

The body metabolizes alcohol at a constant rate of about 0.015% blood alcohol concentration per hour, regardless of how much was consumed. A healthy liver can process roughly 30 ml of pure alcohol every 90 minutes. Drinking faster than this causes toxic alcohol metabolites to accumulate in the bloodstream.

Alcohol poisoning occurs when alcohol intake exceeds the body's ability to metabolize it.

Any type of alcoholic beverage can cause poisoning if consumed in excessive amounts, regardless of quality or price.

Typically, intoxication develops after consuming five or more standard drinks within two hours for men, and four or more for women.

One standard drink contains 10 ml (8 grams) of pure alcohol. Standard drink equivalents include:

• 125 ml of wine at 12% alcohol — 1.5 standard drinks;
• 330 ml of beer or cider at 5% alcohol — 1.7 standard drinks;
• 440 ml of beer or cider at 5.5% alcohol — 2.4 standard drinks;
• 35 ml of spirits like gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, tequila, or sambuca — 1.4 standard drinks.

Symptoms of Mild Alcohol Intoxication

Mild intoxication symptoms familiar to most drinkers include:

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
• Slurred speech and impaired logical thinking;
• Distorted vision and hearing;
• Loss of balance;
• Headache;
• Nausea and occasional vomiting;
• Temporary vision darkening.

While unpleasant, these symptoms are usually not life-threatening and typically resolve within 24 hours, often resulting in a hangover.

Self-Care Tips for Alcohol Poisoning

If you feel unwell after drinking but believe the situation is manageable, you can try these steps to ease symptoms:

Stop drinking alcohol and start hydrating immediately to prevent further intoxication and dehydration. If available, use oral rehydration solutions.

Eat bland, easily digestible foods such as oatmeal, bananas, crackers, or toast. These slow alcohol absorption but do not speed up sobriety.

Take a gentle walk to distract yourself and promote circulation.

What Not to Do During Alcohol Poisoning

No home remedy can quickly reverse alcohol poisoning, and some common advice may worsen the condition. Avoid:

• Trying to 'sleep it off'—risk of unconsciousness or choking on vomit;
• Consuming caffeine or energy drinks, which can cause dehydration and raise blood pressure;
• Taking cold showers, which may cause blood vessel spasms, increase heart rate, and potentially trigger heart attacks;
• Inducing vomiting, which does not help eliminate alcohol and may harm the stomach;
• Eating fatty foods after intoxication, which can irritate the stomach further, although it might help prevent poisoning if eaten before drinking.

Discover engaging topics and analytical content in Healthy Lifestyle & Wellness as of 05-05-2024. The article titled " How to Handle Alcohol Poisoning Effectively " provides new insights and practical guidance in the Healthy Lifestyle & Wellness field. Each topic is meticulously analyzed to deliver actionable information to readers.

The topic " How to Handle Alcohol Poisoning Effectively " helps you make smarter decisions within the Healthy Lifestyle & Wellness category. All topics on our website are unique and offer valuable content for our audience.