person's death. This type of poisoning is caused by the consumption of
large quantities of alcohol within a short period of time and occurs
because consuming alcohol too quickly can affect a person's breathing,
body temperature, gag reflexes, and heart rate. Drinking too much in a
short while can also lead to loss of consciousness.
How to know when someone has alcohol poisoning
*.their breaths become irregular
*.they might faint
*.vomiting
*.skin becomes pale and clammy
*.they become disoriented
*.body temperature drops
*.they might have a seizure
*.breathing is slow
When a person who is suffering alcohol poisoning is unconscious, it
is important to get medical help as they could die at that stage. It
is important to see a doctor before the symptoms degenerate.
If you ever find yourself around a person suffering from alcohol
poisoning, it is important to stay with them; such episodes usually
come with gag reflexes that might cause the person to choke on their
vomit and block their airways.
While you should not try to make them vomit, if they do, keep them
sitting up, with their back against a solid surface . If they need to
lie down, turn them on their side(this is known to reduce chances of
choking).
What causes alcohol poisoning?
Binge drinking is known to be the commonest cause of alcohol
poisoning. During binge drinking, a person consumes a lot of different
brands of alcohol in a short while. Sometimes, alcohol poisoning can
result from binging that has gone on for a number of days; this is
because even when a person has stopped drinking, alcohol is still
released into their bloodstream form their stomachs and intestines,
thereby causing a continuous rise in their body's alcohol content.
Normally, it takes the body at least an hour to process the alcohol
content in one drink. As such, mixed drinks can contain more alcohol
than is usually in one serving and take the body a longer while to
process.
Factors that increase the risk of alcohol poisoning
*.When you had your last meal
*.Alcohol tolerance levels
*.A person's weight and size
*.Alcohol percentage in a drink
*.When alcohol is combined with medication
*.A person's general health
*.The amount of alcohol consumed
Complications caused by alcohol poisoning
*.Very low body temperature that could lead to a heart attack
*.A person could inhale vomit into their lungs and not be able to breathe
*.Seizures may occur as a result of sugar levels dropping too low
*.Gag reflexes may cause choking
*.Damage to the brain
*.Dehydration
*.Death
Treatment of alcohol poisoning
*. Intravenous supply of liquids to prevent dehydration
*.Glucose and vitamins are usually administered to reduce the
complications of the poisoning
*.Positioning the person as described earlier to ease breathing and
prevent choking
*.In cases where a person has consumed dangerous amounts of alcohol
accidentally, they may need to get their systems filtered
professionally ton rid their body of the toxins and waste.
There are some dangerous beliefs regarding alcohol poisoning that
practise. Some people believe that by taking a long walk, you can
increase the rate at which your body processes the alcohol; this
belief is wrong. Some people believe they can reverse alcohol
poisoning by sleeping it off, drinking coffee or taking a shower; none
of these things work. You need to see a doctor.
Preventing alcohol poisoning
The first and most obvious prevention is to stay away from alcohol
but because some types of alcohol are actually healthy when taken in
small quantities, you can also drink safely and moderately (one drink
a day).
Younger people, especially teenagers who are experiencing their fist
year in college and enjoying being free from home, need to understand
that binge drinking, while it might seem like fun, can actually cut
their lives short. They need to be made to understand that tolerance
levels are different and competing with someone else who can keep
going is by far, a bad idea.
The one glass of wine that is usually prescribed as healthy for the
heart, always goes with a meal, during or after your meal. This is
because doctors understand the dangers that could follow drinking
alcohol on an empty stomach. Also, when alcohol is taken, there's
really no need for you to rush it.
Children are naturally inquisitive. Most people had their first taste
of alcohol at home, when their parents were not looking. Some kids are
not lucky enough to laugh about it later in life. It is important that
parents learn to store alcohol far from where children will find it or
lock it up somewhere.
Mixing alcohol with medication
Mixing alcohol with your medication can cause many problems from
internal bleeding to difficulty in breathing. Some can cause nausea,
dizziness and even heart problems.
There are usually warnings on drugs that should not be taken on
alcohol. If you cannot find anything that expressly states that you
should not take alcohol with your drugs, don't risk it.
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