Alcohol and injury.

ABSTRACT

A number of patients who agreed to have their blood and breath alcohol levels tested were investigated on the nights of weekends during November and December 1994 and on the second week pay days. During there 17 nights 125 out of 360 patients agreed to be investigated. The two largest number of cases presented between 00.00-02.00 am, and 22.00-24.00 pm respectively. 95.2% of the cases were males between 16 years and 62 years of age. The highest number were in the 21-30 year age group, and the second highest in the 16-20 year age group. Traffic injuries accounted for 48% of injuries, self harms ad assaults for 34.4%, fall and other causes were 8.8% each. Most cases fell into one of three groups skilled manual workers, salaried workers and students. As the effects of alcohol caused cerebral depression starting with euphoria and followed by decreased inhibitions, muscular in coordination, slowing of reaction time and visual impairment, these patients are prone to injury. This series did not demonstrate the severity of injury due to the dispersal of the patients. However 74.4% of the series had blood alcohol level over 100 mg/dl, and 81.2% of the cases were found in the group of motorcycles accident cases. Patients with blood alcohol levels of 80 mg/dl had generally been involved in traffic accident, self harms and assaults group. Patients with blood alcohol levels of 150 mg/dl injured by falls due to muscular in coordination