Alcohol Overdose - What to expect and how to avoid

Alcohol Overdose

People, mostly teenagers, think that when it comes to drinking, they can handle anything. Many times, they mix beer with a couple of shots of stronger liquor. Of course, there are people who are strong drinkers. Many, on the other, hand get knocked out on the first shot. Many think that they are strong enough to take in anything, and end up passing out through alcohol overdose.

The Statistics

“Approximately 50,000 alcohol overdose cases are reported each year in the United States and roughly once every week, someone dies from this 100% avoidable medical condition. Understanding the symptoms and causes of a toxic reaction, and responding intelligently and appropriately to such a situation, can help avoid a fatal overdose.” - http://www.alcohol-abuse-info.com

Effects of overdosing with alcohol and helping out

When someone overdoses with alcohol, you might see signs of vomiting, mental instability (he might start to get in fights or might shout a lot), etc. One very dangerous thing that can happen is for the drunk person to choke on his vomit. This might kill him due to asphyxiation.

More effects that can surface is the danger of the drunk person entering a coma or having seizures.

These are serious things and one should be aware when a friend is entering a state of alcohol overdose.

When you sense that a friend or someone in the bar is starting to exhibit the symptoms of alcohol overdose, you should not hesitate to call 911 or your local hospital and police station. Doing so will decrease the danger that the person is faced with.

Make sure that the person will not choke on his or her vomit. Also, keep the person under constant observation until the ambulance comes.

How to avoid alcohol overdose

Like what I said in a related hub called Best Alcohol or Alcohol beverage in town, I discussed how to be able to take the beating during a drinking session, one must first of all, know his limit. By knowing one’s limit, he or she will be able to stop himself or herself from overdosing. Secondly, one needs to incorporate pacing in their drinking. Like what I said, pacing is not only used in running marathons or eating in an eat all you can buffet. With pacing, you will be able to stay conscious longer. This will also open up opportunities for you to sneak in bathroom breaks that you might have otherwise taken in you pants if you drank straight.

Also, one way on preventing alcohol overdose is to eat before drinking. You do not have to eat a lot. Actually, it is preferred if you just ate a small snack. Heavy eating before heavy drinking will make you full right away and prevent you from drinking the desired amount that you want to drink. Whiledrinking.blogspot.com suggest to eat bar food as these will help you make it through the night, compared to other, heavier food. Eat heavy food and you will end up puking your way out of the bar.

One sure fire way of decreasing chances of overdosing alcohol is by not mixing drinks. Beer and hard drinks do not match. Beer + Hard drinks = one very big hangover. If you do not want to drag yourself home and wake up next morning with weights on both sides of your head, stick to one drink.

Photo courtesy of http://www.alcohol-information.com