The Basics Of Alcohol Poisoning Treatment

If you think that alcohol consumption is generally safe (maybe because of how the mass media has glorified alcohol intake) then you should learn more about alcohol poisoning. When you have drunk an extreme amount of alcohol in one sitting it can lead to a dangerous condition of having too much ethanol in your blood requiring special alcohol poisoning treatment.

If you have this condition (which is indicated when you have slow breathing, become unconscious, disoriented or worse, or if you develop hypothermia or a lower body temperature) then you must immediately seek treatment to avoid the fatal effects of alcohol poisoning.

If you happen to be present when a person shows the signs of alcohol poisoning then you must take the following steps for prompt treatment:

  • Take it as an emergency case and call 911 immediately
  • It is best to keep the intoxicated person sitting down or in an upright position
  • Make sure the intoxicated person is placed on his side (if he is lying down) to prevent him from choking on his own vomit
  • Do not take it easy even if the person appears to be just sleeping because he may still be in danger of alcohol poisoning
  • Never give a person in danger of alcohol poisoning any food or medicine
  • Do not soak the intoxicated person in water as it may cause unconsciousness

Knowing the dangers of alcohol intake should make you vigilant about the level of alcohol you take in for a certain period. Some people may classify it as social drinking but you never know if you have already exceeded your alcohol limit. The general rule is to drink only one alcoholic drink per hour using the following rule of thumb:

  • A drink of beer should be equal to a 12 oz beer per hour
  • A drink of hard alcohol should be equal to only 1.5oz of hard alcohol which is classified as 80-proof
  • A drink of wine should be equal to a 10 oz wine

However, the minimum or maximum alcohol level that your body can take in without succumbing to alcohol poisoning will also depend on your personal circumstances like your weight and height as well as the chemistry of your body. It is also important to take note of the fact that ordering mixed drinks can be dangerous because you do not know how much alcohol content (of each kind) is in that drink.

There are various alcohol poisoning treatments.
1. Giving of intravenous fluids - once a person is taken to a hospital for alcohol poisoning he is immediately given intravenous fluids (through a dextrose bag) so that dehydration is prevented.

2. Kidney Dialysis -This is a last resort when the person has ingested methanol or isopropyl alcohol as these alcoholic substances can be easily disposed of through the kidneys.

3. Alcohol detox treatment - For long term care, an alcoholic can be registered into a detox facility to get rid of the toxic substances in his body. This requires long term care because detoxification is only the beginning and the patient will require psychological and physical care due to the withdrawal symptoms.

Some people believe that too much alcohol intake can be instantly cured by drinking black coffee or taking a quick shower. However, these are both myths and can only worsen the situation. The effects of too much alcohol intake will automatically wear off after a certain period but if it is already a case of alcohol poisoning then there is no use waiting for the recovery of the intoxicated person. The best thing to do in this case is too get medical help.

If you are still unsure about the ill effects of alcohol poisoning then digest the following information. If you are suffering from alcohol poisoning, your nerves (the same ones that take control of breathing and reflex) becomes depressed and unable to function. Thus, it is possible to vomit endlessly and then choke on your own vomit when you are so drunk and you have no control of such nerves.

And if you think that passing out (which means you can just sleep it off) can relieve you of alcohol poisoning then better think again because your BAC (blood alcohol level) can continue to increase as ethanol continues to enter the bloodstream. The worse scenario for a victim of alcohol poisoning is brain damage.

Alcoholism Treatment