Watch Your BAC - Betty C. Jung



Watch Your BAC!

[pic]

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Training Program

University of Wisconsin-Stout

Counseling Center

410 Bowman Hall

Allen Ebel

ebela@uwstout.edu

[pic] Effects of Ethanol on the Central Nervous System

Alcohol is an anesthetic that slows and depresses your brain and body. The higher the blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the stronger the anesthetic effect. Even a small amount of ethanol in the blood can have a strong impact on your central nervous system and on your behavior.

Although each of us responds somewhat differently to the anesthetic effects of alcohol based on our mood, the drinking setting, our physical health and our tolerance for this chemical, the following chart suggests the physiological effects at various BAC levels.

At higher BAC levels, absorption of the ethanol into the blood stream continues at a steady rate while the alcohol metabolism (oxidation) slows down because of the anesthetic effects on the heart, lungs and liver. Death occurs when the respiratory and circulatory systems are anesthetized to the point where they can no longer function.

Approximate Effects of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Levels

[pic] 0.02% BAC Light Drinkers Feel Some Effects.

[pic] 0.04% BAC Most Drinkers Feel Relaxed.

[pic] 0.06% BAC Increased Relaxation and/or Euphoria. Judgment Impaired.

[pic] 0.08% BAC Impaired Coordination. Drunk Driving Level in Some States

[pic] 0.10% BAC Drunk Driving Level in most States.

[pic] 0.12% BAC Vomiting if Reached Quickly.

[pic] 0.15% BAC Loss of Balance; Swaying, Staggering, Slurring Words.

[pic] 0.30% BAC Confusion, Trouble Standing, Some Pass Out.

[pic] 0.40% BAC Most Pass Out, Some fall into a Coma. Danger of Choking on Vomit.

[pic] 0.45% BAC Breathing Stops. Death.

[pic] Note: Above effects are estimates; individual reactions vary. USE CAUTION!

Watch Your BAC

Allen Ebel – UW-Stout

Page 1. ebela@uwstout.edu

Measuring a “Standard Drink”

Alcoholic beverages vary a lot in the amount of alcohol (ethanol) they contain. Some contain only 3% percent while others can be as high as 90% ethanol. Learning to estimate the ethanol concentration in various drinks is the first step to drinking safely. The second step is having a system for translating the amount of ethanol to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in your body.

Doctors have developed a formula that estimates BAC when a standard amount of pure ethanol (1/2 ounce) is absorbed into the blood stream. Therefore, if we learn how to calculate the number of 1/2 ounce drinks we consume, we can also estimate our BAC.

A “Standard Drink” contains about ½ ounce of Ethanol

[pic] 10 to 12 ounces of beer

[pic] 8 to 12 ounces of wine cooler

[pic] 4 to 5 ounces of table wine

• 1.25 ounces of 80 proof, or 1.0 ounce of 100 proof distilled spirits

[pic]

Calculating Ethanol Content

12 oz. of Bud X 4.8% Alcohol = .58 oz. Ethanol

1 oz. of Jack X 40% Alcohol = .40 oz. Ethanol

12 oz. Cooler x 5% Alcohol = .60 oz. Ethanol

4 oz. of Wine X 12% Alcohol = .48 oz. Ethanol

Once you’ve determined how many standard drinks there are in your favorite beverage you can use the following BAC tables to estimate your blood alcohol concentration.

Watch Your BAC

Allen Ebel – UW-Stout

ebela@uwstout.edu Page 2.

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

UW-Stout

Page

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download