Alcohol poisoning, vomiting and other symptoms, what is the first aid?

The number of alcohol poisonings, i.e. ethanol intoxication, increases in the summer time. People often spend their holidays, vacations and free days drinking. This can take a toll on them, their children and even the uninvolved innocent.

Alcohol, what is it?

Alcohol (ethanol) belongs to the group of hydroxyderivatives (oxygen derivatives of hydrocarbons). This includes the simplest alcohol - methanol, whose poisonings are rarer, but also serious.

Consumable alcohol

In summer, poisonings are on the increase, especially with potable alcohol, which is alcohol as we know it from the shelves of the shops or from our grandfathers' home production. It is made from three basic ingredients: water, sugar and yeast.

Fermentation

Enzymes in the yeast cells metabolise sugar (carbohydrates) and ethanol and carbon dioxide are produced as a waste product. The baker's yeast used in the past has been replaced by the cultured yeast Sacharomyces cerevisiae. The formation of alcohol is much faster and the production of by-product metabolites is kept to a minimum. Everything happens without air.

Distillation

The process of fermentation is followed by distillation. Distillation produces the alcohol itself, which contains methyl alcohol and other alcohols that are harmful to health. For this reason, the product must also undergo refining and rectification. These perhaps unfamiliar concepts are repeated distillations to remove even the last remnants of harmful substances.

The effect of alcohol on humans

Except for complete teetotalers, almost every person knows the alcoholic high. And it doesn't have to be an alcoholic. We come into contact with it almost everywhere. Family gatherings, social gatherings, work meetings, evening get-togethers, and it is even a part of some households.

Ingesting small amounts of alcohol

Alcohol in small amounts of up to 0.3 per mille does not show any signs. After exceeding this level, a person already feels the first signs of drunkenness.

What is my blood alcohol level?
Approximate calculation.

He becomes more relaxed, more sociable, more confident, loses his inhibitions, his self-esteem rises, he forgets his problems, he talks a lot. He stops caring so much about what others think. He feels good in the moment, a positive mood prevails. This pleasant feeling is what makes people reach for a drink.

A small amount of alcohol in the body will trigger reactions like:

• Hyperactivity
• over-communicative.
• relaxation
• increased self-esteem and confidence
• social behaviour
• forgetfulness of problems
• joy, happiness
• good mood
• laughter

Introverts who use alcohol to be more sociable and to fit in more easily have a bigger problem.

Adolescence is also a problematic time. Children are difficult to manage and easily influenced by the group of friends they are in. This is often where they first come into contact with drinking.

The risk of intoxication in childhood is higher precisely because of uncontrollable drinking, when children cannot estimate the quantity.

Ingesting large quantities of alcohol

Increased self-confidence and over-communicativeness are easily replaced by subdued mood, especially with higher doses of alcohol. Excessive doses are common not only in alcoholics but also in people who do not drink frequently. They do not estimate well how much they can drink. Hyperactivity is replaced by reduced activity, subdued mood.

More alcohol in the blood = more problems:

• reduced physical activity
• impaired coordination of movements
• fatigue, drowsiness, sleepiness
• impaired concentration
• dizziness
• visual impairment, double or blurred vision
• hearing impairment
• speech disorders - slurred speech
• uncriticalness
• memory disorders
• urinary and faecal incontinence

Summertime as an increased risk of alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is common in adults and children, especially during the school holidays. As people tend to travel, have fun and relax during the summer months, alcohol intake increases. For some, the fun is even directly linked to the use of the substance.

Holiday destinations and alcohol

Let's face it, who hasn't managed to smuggle a bottle of their favourite whiskey or other spirit through the strict airport security?

Failure is rare.

Anyone who says they haven't even tried is either unique or lying. Almost everyone packs this "elixir of good cheer" in their suitcase.

All-inclusive vacations are the most sought-after. People want to spend this pleasant time of year without worrying about anything. However, ultra all-inclusive vacations are becoming increasingly popular.

What's the difference?

The word ultra also includes unlimited amounts of alcohol completely free of charge.

The biggest risk is inherent human greed. People tend to make the most of what they don't have to pay for. But is that really true?

Interesting:
Holidaymakers know. First-time travellers may not.
Travel insurance does not cover the cost of medical care related to alcohol consumption.
It's not just the poisoning itself, but also injuries, drowning and other problems associated with alcohol consumption!

Children, holidays and alcohol

Hooray for the holidays!

A time of free time, social activities, outings and sweet doing nothing. Every child is excited, from the little ones to high schoolers to college students.

However, holidays and the activities during them are not only associated with more frequent injuries, but also with increased alcohol consumption among children.

The smaller the child, the greater the danger at even lower doses of alcohol. They don't want to be left behind in the company of friends, so they adapt and drink.

Although some older school children feel that they know everything about alcohol, drinking and life in general, the opposite is true.

Sad as it is to admit, alcohol poisoning and alcoholism itself is on the rise among children. This is evidenced by the statistics of ambulance and police patrol calls to ever younger persons.

Let's look at all the summer problems together:
Our health in summer - sun, heat, injuries and illness

Older people and alcohol

Often village life was like getting up early in the morning at dawn. You drank a glass of alcohol and went to feed the poultry and cattle, to the fields, to the garden.

They had their own gardens and vineyards, and they usually made their own alcohol. Some grandfathers still make spirits today.

The homemade ones contain a higher percentage of alcohol. After drinking a small amount of homemade brandy, the alcoholic high comes earlier.

The risk of alcohol poisoning is also increased. The elderly are at risk of alcohol poisoning because of their increased morbidity and the concomitant use of a wide range of medicines.

Alcohol poisoning = big problem and risk of health complications

What is alcohol poisoning?

We already know that alcohol affects the human body in several ways: in small quantities, sporadically, sporadically, but especially in chronic abuse and alcoholism.

Ingestion of alcohol in such quantities that it damages health and has serious consequences such as unconsciousness and death is called alcohol poisoning.

Wherever the toxic effect of alcohol acts:

• the brain (communication, behaviour, states, speech, coordination of movements)
• blood vessels (dilation of blood vessels, low blood pressure, collapse, injuries)
• liver (cirrhosis of the liver, hepatopathy)
• kidneys (kidney failure with subsequent need for dialysis)

Chronic health impairment by alcohol

It is caused by chronic alcohol use. Chronic damage to organs and general health is caused by long-term, regular drinking (daily). The changes to organs and the consequences caused by alcohol are irreversible.

The damage manifests itself as:

• damage to the brain manifested by the development of dementia, epilepsy or subarachnoid brain haemorrhage
• liver damage resulting in progressive liver remodelling, cirrhosis to liver failure with hepatic coma
• inflammation and tumours of the liver and pancreas are common
• damage to the pharynx causes heartburn and bleeding from oesophageal varices and gastric haemorrhage
• kidney, heart and lung failure

Acute alcohol poisoning

We speak of acute alcohol poisoning when there is accidental ingestion of excessive amounts of alcohol. The most dangerous part of acute poisoning is unconsciousness, inhalation of vomit, respiratory depression followed by death.

This type of poisoning occurs in three successive stages. It is life-threatening to go from the second stage to the third.

Excitation stage

The excitatory stage is not life-threatening at any given time. It is an initial feeling of good mood, rejuvenation and increased self-confidence. It begins shortly after the consumption of alcohol.

• Hyperactivity
• excessive communicativeness
• uncriticalness
• hyperpyrexia (increased body temperature)

Narcotic stage

Occurs at the end of the excitatory stage. The previous euphoria and hyperactivity is replaced by a decline - both physical and mental.

• Redness in the face
• fatigue, malaise, drowsiness
• nausea vomiting
• slowed reactions
• uncoordinated movements (fidgeting)
• slurred speech
• head spinning
• visual disturbances (double, blurred)
• hearing disturbances

Comatose stage

This is the most serious stage, when the patient falls unconscious. There is a risk of vomiting of stomach contents and subsequent inhalation. Respiratory disturbances and convulsions may also occur. In this case, life is directly threatened.

• unconsciousness (unresponsive to addressing, shaking, pain)
• Pallor in the face
• mydriasis (dilated pupils)
• slowed breathing
• weak pulse
• sweating
• hypothermia
• motor (movement) weakness
• muscle spasms
• injuries are often present

What to do in acute intoxication? What is first aid?

This life-threatening condition belongs in the hands of a doctor.

Any patient with acute alcohol poisoning in the comatose stage must be monitored in a medical facility. In the event of complete unconsciousness, basic life-saving procedures must be taken and emergency medical assistance summoned.

First aid for consciousness

Differences in first aid depend on the degree of impairment of consciousness.

If the patient is conscious (responsive, responsive), it is necessary to induce vomiting. Alternatively, in hospital, gastric lavage is performed.

During vomiting, the patient must be seated and slightly bent over. This minimises the risk of possible aspiration (inhalation) of gastric contents.

Sugar (sweet water) intake is also important. Alcohol intoxicated patients are prone to hypoglycaemia (reduced blood sugar).

This is especially dangerous in people being treated for diabetes mellitus (diabetes). The coma itself may be caused by just a lack of sugar.

Caution!
Always check the state of consciousness properly.
Never induce vomiting in unconscious patients, and those who respond only by slightly opening their eyes and falling asleep again, or are unresponsive.
There is a risk of aspiration of stomach contents and death by suffocation.

First aid in unconsciousness

When the patient is unconscious and breathing (hearing and feeling a stream of exhaled air on the cheek, chest rising), he should be placed in a stable position on his side.

In this position, breathing is checked a second time. It is also important to check the oral cavity for the presence of vomit.

Consciousness check:

• Addressing
• shake
• painful stimulus

Breathing check:

• hear exhalation through ear
• I can feel the air flow.
• I see the chest rising

Caution!
Wheezing is not breathing.
If a person is wheezing and blue in the face, it is necessary to start resuscitation.
The exception is wheezing and convulsive activity during an epileptic seizure. Here we check breathing again after the convulsions have subsided.

The difference between an epileptic seizure and convulsions in oxygen deprivation is that in epilepsy the jaw is severely clenched.

Check the oral cavity:

• presence of vomit
• presence of dentures
• presence of bleeding

Blood circulation check:

• pulse is not palpated!
• presence of breathing = preserved circulation
• Facial colour (sufficient respiration = pink colour)

Check for injuries:

• by sight
• palpation under clothing

Until medical assistance arrives, it is necessary to have someone check the patient permanently, constantly and without interruption. In case of vomiting, the oral cavity should be cleaned. However, the main thing is the presence and control of breathing.

If respiratory arrest occurs, cardiopulmonary resuscitation - CPR - must be initiated.