Alcohol-Soaking You

What is alcohol?
• any of a series of volatile hydroxyl compounds that are made from hydrocarbons by distillation
• antiseptic and cooling but is also very drying to the hair and skin
• Colorless; contains some of the same compounds as gasoline
• Alcohol is a drug – a depressant that impairs the functioning of your brain and slows down your breathing; can be highly addictive and lead to irreversible problems

Alcoholic beverages can include beer, wine, “hard” liquor, malt based beverages (such as hard lemonade, ciders, hard ice teas, etc.)

What is a standard drink?
A 5 ounce glass of wine
A 12 ounce beer
A 1 to 1.5 ounce shot of liquor

For more information about standard drinks and how to measure the amount of alcohol in a drink, go here http://www.thecoolspot.gov/facts_game.asp

What does drinking do?
• Alcohol enters your bloodstream through your stomach (20% is absorbed by your stomach, 80% by your small intestines)
• The blood carries the alcohol to all of your organs and tissues

How does it make you feel?
• Euphoric – self-confident, daring, bad judgment
• Excited – sleepy, problems remembering things, uncoordinated,
• Confused – slurred speech, stumbling, emotional, blurry eyesight or “double vision”
• stupefied” or in a stupor – can barely move, might throw up, can’t talk
• Coma – unconscious, breathing and heart rates slow down, body “cools off
• Death

There are many alcoholic beverages that are sweet tasting and can often have more alcohol than other products. The alcohol industry uses advertising to market these products to you, even though you are not old enough to drink them. To view a power point on how the alcohol industry targets YOU with their product and alcohol advertising, click here.

Signs of Alcohol Poisoning?

* Mental confusion, stupor, coma, or person cannot be
roused
* Vomiting
* Seizures
* Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute)
* Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
* Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin
color, pale

What Should You Do If You Think Someone Has Alcohol Poisoning?

* Recognize the danger signals.
* Do not wait for all symptoms to be present.
* Don`t try to guess the level of drunkenness.
* Be aware that a person who has passed out may die.
* If there is any suspicion of an alcohol overdose,
call 911 for help right away!
DON'T EVER LEAVE A PERSON ALONE FOR FEAR OF GETTING THEM OR YOURSELF IN TROUBLE! Get them help immediately - they could die!