Signs and Treatments of Alcohol Poisoning

Ask every teen (above 18) and those in their 20s, and they will tell you the main reason they go to bars or clubs is because they want to drink and have a good time? But how good a time are you having when you are throwing up or can’t remember how it happened? This is a sign of drinking too much alcohol, more than your body can tolerate. You need to be aware of what you are getting into when consuming alcohol, its fine that you want to have a good time, but what are the risks involved? I’m sure most of us have heard of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is a serious and often fatal condition that results from drinking way too much alcohol. The body absorbs alcohol, but when there are extreme amounts of alcohol in the body, it directly affects the central nervous system. This could result in slow breathing, sluggish heart rate and can lead to choking, a comatose state or death.

So how does alcohol poisoning occur? One of the reasons is drinking too much alcohol is too short a span and even due mixing different alcoholic beverages together (everyone who drinks should know never to mix drinks). Most people go on a sort of drinking binge and end up with alcohol poisoning. But alcohol poisoning doesn’t only occur by drinking alcohol, it can even occur by ingesting household products that contain ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and methyl alcohol. Any person with alcohol poisoning needs immediate medical care and should in no situation be left alone for any amount of time. But how do you know if a person is suffering from alcohol poisoning?

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning
Here are the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning:

• A state of stupor or confusion and disorientation.
• Excessive vomiting.
• Sudden seizures.
• Breathing is slow or irregular.
• Skin has become ghastly pale or blue-tinged.
• Shivering as a sign of low body temperature or hypothermia.
• Becoming unconscious.

Treatment of Alcohol Poisoning
The fastest method of getting treatment for alcohol poisoning is to get medical care for that person. This is the first step in treatment. If you notice any one with any of the symptoms mentioned, you need to call the emergency number in your area (like 911 in America). You will most probably be put in touch with the poison center that will guide you on what needs to be done. One of the things they will tell you is to not leave the unconscious person alone and not try to make them vomit, as there are chances of choking. Treatment will typically include:

• Monitoring the person carefully.
• Protecting the airway to allow for regular breathing and to prevent choking.
• Oxygen therapy.
• Giving the person fluids through a vein to avoid dehydration (especially when the person is unconscious.
• In case of methanol ingestion, dialysis on the kidney will be done to get the alcohol out of the system as soon as possible. Dialysis is also part of the treatment for isopropyl alcohol poisoning.