How to Identify and Treat Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is a result of drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short timeframe.

It increases blood pressure, heart rate, dizziness and results in poor concentration. However, alcohol poisoning can have severe effects and become a life-threatening emergency. In Australia, 6,000 lives are lost from alcohol related diseases every year and long-term alcohol consumption leads to more than 200 different types of diseases and injuries.

Today, we are going to cover the following information about alcohol poisoning: causes, signs, symptoms, complications, first aid treatment and medical treatment. It is important for you to know first aid for alcohol poisoning. That way, you can recognise the signs of alcohol poisoning early, and take proactive actions to get the victim medical help immediately, and thereby increase their chances of survival.

What causes Alcohol Poisoning?

The main cause of alcohol poisoning is binge drinking.

The definition of binge drinking according to the Australian Drug Foundation is to "drink heavily over a short period of time with the intention of becoming intoxicated". Generally, the liver can only process one standard alcoholic drink per hour.

Consuming more alcohol than the liver’s workload will force the liver to redirect the alcohol into the bloodstream and throughout the body. The more alcohol you drink, the higher your blood alcohol concentration becomes till it reaches a toxic level and causes an alcohol overdose. Even if you stop drinking or fall unconscious, the alcohol will still continue to enter the bloodstream, further increasing the blood alcohol concentration.

Signs and Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning

Mild signs and symptoms (last 24 hours):

• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Increased sensitivity to light and sound
• Restless sleep

Severe signs and symptoms:

• Confusion
• Seizures
• Cyanosis (blue skin) or pale skin
• Clammy skin
• Hypothermia (low body temperature)
• Unconscious and cannot be woken up

Complications of Alcohol Poisoning

Short term complications include:

• Accidental injury to yourself and to others
• Road traffic accident
• Family and domestic violence
• Hangovers

Long-term complications include:

• Liver cirrhosis and liver failure
• Brain damage
• High blood pressure
• Cancers
• Increased risk of diabetes
• Mental health illnesses, increased risk of suicide

First Aid for Alcohol Poisoning

• Call triple zero (000) immediately and follow the DRSABCD procedure.
• Move the person to a safe, quiet space.
• While you wait for help, keep him/her warm.
• If unconscious, place the person in a recovery position and check for breathing.
• If awake, place the person in a sitting position.

Prevention

• Count the number of drinks you have had.
• Limit yourself to one alcoholic drink per hour.
• Avoid chugging contests or drinking games.
• Stay with friends who appear to be intoxicated.
• If you notice signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning, call triple zero (000) immediately.

Medical Treatment for Alcohol Poisoning

When the victim is taken to the hospital and the mild symptoms of alcohol poisoning are increasingly getting worse, the doctors would arrange for some investigations and prescribe medications.

They include:

• Blood glucose level monitoring
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring
• Urea and electrolytes level monitoring
• Blood alcohol concentration monitoring
• Consider CT brain if decreasing conscious state
• Prescribe benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal and symptoms control

Learn to drink alcohol safely and prevent alcohol poisoning. To learn to identify, prevent and manage the symptoms of alcohol poisoning, book a date to learn First Aid with Australia Wide First Aid today!