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Alcohol Poisoning


Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is the result of ingesting so much alcohol that the body is poisoned. Vomiting, cold clammy skin and slow breathing are all symptoms of alcohol poisoning, and if someone you know exhibits these symptoms they should get medical help immediately, as it could be fatal.

About Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning, also known as alcohol overdose, is a dangerous and sometimes deadly result of drinking significantly more ethanol alcohol than the body can process.

In cases of alcohol poisoning, the alcohol depresses the nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing and the gag reflex. The gag reflex prevents choking. A fatal dose of alcohol will eventually stop these functions.

It is common for someone who drank excessive alcohol to vomit since alcohol is an irritant to the stomach. This presents the danger of choking on vomit, which could cause death by asphyxiation in a person who is not conscious because of intoxication.

A person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can continue to rise even while he or she is passed out. Even after a person stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. It is dangerous to assume the person will be fine by sleeping it off.

Signs and Symptoms of alcohol poisoning:

*Mental confusion (the person cannot be roused)
*vomiting
*Dangerous anger
*Seizures (fits)
*Slow breathing (less than eight breaths a minute)
*Hypothermia (low body temperature) or pale, bluish skin
*Cold and clammy skin

If you suspect that someone has alcohol poisoning, do not wait for all of the symptoms to be present. If there is any suspicion of an alcohol overdoes, call 911 for help.

If the alcohol poisoning goes untreated, the victim may die. Even if the victim lives, an alcohol overdose can lead to irreversible brain damage. Rapid binge drinking (which often happens on a bet or a dare) is especially dangerous because the victim can ingest a fatal dose before becoming unconscious.

Don't be afraid to seek medical help for a friend who has had too much to drink. Don't worry that your friend may become angry or embarrassed. Always be safe, not sorry. While waiting for 911 emergency transport, gently turn the intoxicated person on his or her side and maintain that position by placing a pillow in the small of the person’s back. This is important to prevent aspiration (choking) should the person vomit. Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

Created by vickiz

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