Archive for the ‘Blood Alcohol Level’ Category

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When It Comes To Blood Alcohol Level: Relax

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

If you’ve been out drinking tonight and tested your blood alcohol level with your breathalyzer before you returned home, you may be fixating on that experience instead of relaxing and getting rest.

Most adults experience some level of insomnia and have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep on a typical night.

Mercola has some recommendations for getting a good night sleep.  Here are a few ideas:

  • Journal.  If your mind is racing and you have difficulty quieting the thoughts that are doing laps in your head, then journaling can help.  Journaling allows you to completely express the thoughts and feelings that you are dealing with and helps you to release the anxiety that may be attached to them.
  • Listen to white noise or a relaxation cd.  Many adults and children alike find white noise or relaxation cds such as nature sounds soothing.
  • Avoid caffeine.  High doses of caffeine before bed are shown to cause alertness rather than induce sleep.
  • Go to bed and get up at the same time each day.  Once your body learns your sleeping habits it will become easier for you to slip into sleep faster.

There are many other useful ideas for getting a restful night of sleep.  Check out Mercola.com for more information.

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Don’t Blame The Blood Alcohol Calculator

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

If you forgot to use your breathalyzer and the blood alcohol calculator has determined you were really too drunk to drive then you may be facing expensive auto insurance.

Smart Money has 4 ways you can save on your auto insurance if you’re in a rut right now.

  1. Shop Around.  Just because one agency gave you a high rate doesn’t mean they all will.  Call around, look online and even ask for referrals.
  2. Get all available discounts.  So, if you’re facing an increased policy price because of a ticket or some other violation, you or another driver in your home may still qualify for a discount of some sort.
  3. Increase your deductible.  Talk with your agent, but if you increase your deductible, typically your premium will drop, but make sure you can afford the deductible if you would ever need it.
  4. Drop some coverage.  If you have an older car that’s worth less than the coverage you’re forking out for it, you may want to drop collision and collateral comprehensive.

There are almost always ways to cut costs but don’t sacrifice good coverage to save a few dollars.  Do your research and drive responsibly for the best return on your investment.

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Monitor Your Health Like Your Blood Alcohol Level

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Just like a chronically high blood alcohol level can be indicative of drinking too much too often, Health.com recently published an article reporting that too much television viewing each day can indicate failing health and heart disease.

According the study, “The study followed 8,800 adults with no history of heart disease for more than six years. Compared to those who watched less than two hours of TV per day, people who watched four hours or more were 80% more likely to die from heart disease and 46% more likely to die from any cause. All told, 284 people died during the study.”

If you’re using your breathalyzer responsibly and not multiple times each day, then it’s hopeful that you don’t have any other health problems that may be related with excessive drinking.

With anything, moderation is the key.  Healthy living in the New Year requires goal setting, discipline and hard work.

Your first step is to decide what should be considered priorities in your life and then set goals around those which need work and improvement.

As you progress through the year, you can check your own progress by reviewing your goals frequently.

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Celebrate Without A Blood Alcohol Test

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

With Christmas just one day away, many will be attending or hosting parties where alcohol is served. If you’re not one for taking a blood alcohol test before you leave the bar or a party – because who can and really wants to do this each time you have a drink ; consider that  you have a number of options to get home safely.

You could contact an organization such as Never Drive Drunk and they can arrange to have a driver come to you and drive you safely home in your own vehicle or you can also pursue a few other options.

  • Call a cab.  Cabs are readily available in larger cities, but if you can’t flag one down, you can typically call for a cab or reserved car to come pick you up.
  • If you own a pocket breathalyzer you can use that to test your blood alcohol level, but even if you’ve had one drink, it’s better to be safe and not drive at all.
  • Take a bus. Again, bus service is typically available in most cities.
  • Before you drink, designate a driver who will not be drinking that evening to be your ride home.
  • If you’re close enough, you can walk home, but most of us won’t be that close.

Whether you’re drinking and driving or even hosting a holiday party, have a safe and happy holiday!

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How Accurate is a Breathalyzer Test?

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Breathalyzers are not 100% accurate.  In part, this is because they measure ethanol and other substances of similar molecular structure.  For this reason, a breathalyzer test is usually followed with a blood test for a more certain measure of blood alcohol content.  The breathalyzer however, is an effective screen that can keep drivers who are impaired off the road. It does so two ways:

  • First:  If you are pulled over and fail a breathalyzer, the officer will confiscate your keys and take you to jail for further testing.
  • Second:  It can be a deterrent.  If you know there is a chance that you will be pulled over and given a breathalyzer test, you’ll probably be less likely to drive even if you’ve had “just a little too much” to drink.

The fact is, if you’ve had anything to drink, it is best not to drive.  Take a cab home or have someone drive you.  You can always pick your car up after you have sobered up.

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Blood Alcohol Concentration

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

What are characteristics of a  Hardcore Drunk Driver?

  • Drives with a high Blood Alcohol Concentration level of .15 or above
  • Does this repeatedly
  • Has more than one drunk driving arrest
  • Is highly resistant to changing their behavior despite previous sanctions, treatments or education efforts.

According to Dr. Douglas Marlowe, “The Century Council’s most recent survey for The Hardcore Drunk Driver Research Project adds a unique and essential perspective by obtaining feedback directly from the offenders themselves who committed the crime.  The findings have great potential for forging effective prevention techniques, clinical interventions, and policy solutions for the future.”

Here are some of the findings:

  • 73% of hardcore drunk drivers think it is likely a drinking driver will be stopped by authorities; 95% feel that if a driver is stopped for drinking and driving they will be arrested and 97% think it is likely those arrested will be convicted, too.
  • An overwhelming majority (81%) of hardcore drunk drivers say that more severe sanctions after their first DUI conviction would have made them change their behavior to prevent from being arrested and convicted again.
  • Mandatory one year jail time, mandatory $10,000 fine, ignition interlocks are viewed by hardcore drunk drivers as the most effective sanctions and interventions in stopping drinking and driving.
  • Aside from legal consequences, family and friends top the list of reasons why hardcore drunk drivers stop drinking and driving.

driving.ing.

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Blood Alcohol Content

Monday, November 16th, 2009

What is The Century Council?

The Century Council, founded over two decades ago, has emerged as a leader in the fight against drunk driving.  The organization is national, independent, and non-profit; funded by distillers.  They have highlighted research, strategies and programs for the identification, punishment and treatment of hardcore drunk drivers.  Hardcore drunk drivers are those who drive with a high blood alcohol content of .15 or above, and do so repeatedly (as demonstrated by having more than one drunk driving arrest).  They are highly resistant to changing their behavior despite previous sanctions, treatment or education efforts.

This organization has developed initiatives such as:

  • B4UDrink Educator:  Educating adults about the influence of alcohol on an individual’s BAC level.
  • Hardcore Drunk Driving:  Providing a resource for state legislators, policy makers, safety officials, and treatment professionals to effectively deal with hardcore drunk drivers
  • Alcohol 101+:  Encouraging college students to make safe and responsible decisions about alcohol.

Since their establishment in 1991, alcohol related traffic fatalities have decreased by 18%.  They do not claim to be responsible for all the progress, but their contributions continue to have an impact in the fight against drunk driving.

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Alcohol Levels Raise When Combined With Energy Drinks

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

A new craze, mixing alcohol with energy drinks, can lead to higher risk of injury and other alcohol related consequences.  According to a study from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, college students are mixing energy drinks and alcohol in order to drink more and drink longer.  Over 4,000 college students from 10 universities were involved in this 300 question survey about drinking.  The results showed that students who consumed alcohol mixed with energy drinks were:

  • Twice as likely to be hurt or injured,
  • twice as likely to require medical attention and
  • twice as likely to ride with an intoxicated driver

than students who did not consume alcohol mixed with energy drinks.

Caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant, so drinking them together can mask the impairment caused by alcohol.  Therefore the stimulant blocks the effects of the alcohol and you do not feel impaired even when your alcohol levels are high.  The Food and Drug Administration limits caffeine to 65 milligrams per serving of a food or beverage.  Energy drinks may contain up to 300 milligrams in one single serving since they are not yet regulated by the FDA.

As the popularity of energy drinks rises, so does that of mixing them with alcohol.  There are now alcoholic drinks that are already mixed with the energy drinks, like Joose and Four Loko.  According to the Wall Street Journal, more frugal buyers are opting for these already mixed drinks.

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Celebrities Pulled Over for High Blood Alcohol Level

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Celebrities are in public spotlight for both the positive and negative things they do.  Here are a few celebrities who have been in the negative news for getting arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence):

  • Khloe Kardashian: Reality television show star of ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’ was arrested in 2007 for driving under the influence in California.  She was sentenced to 36 months of probation and required to complete community service and attend alcohol education classes.
  • Charles Barkley: The former NBA player for the Phoenix Suns was arrested for DUI in Arizona on December 31, 2008. He was stopped by police for running a red light. His blood alcohol level was reportedly .149%.  He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and was also fined more than $2,000.
  • Richie Sambora: The Bon Jovi guitarist, was arrested for drunk driving in California on March 25 2008.  His BAC was reportedly .13%.  His daughter and another child were in the car at the time of the arrest.  He was ordered to complete a three month alcohol awareness class and pay court fees.

It is important to remember that drinking and driving is illegal and dangerous no matter what your celebrity status is.

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Alcohol Calculator: Not Accurate Enough

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Blood Alcohol Calculators are all over the internet.  You can use one on a website, download one for use on your computer without the internet, or even download one in an application for your iPhone.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the basic formula for estimating a person’s blood alcohol concentration.  The formula assumes that the body metabolizes alcohol at a rate of one drink per hour, assuming that each drink has a volume of .54 ounces of alcohol (one shot of spirits, one glass of wine, or 12 ounces of beer).

The alcohol calculator formula is not accurate enough to tell you if you are coherent enough to drive or not.  A person’s blood alcohol level can be affected by a number of factors including age, weight, gender, time of day, physical condition, food consumed, medication consumed and tolerance level.

The fact is that alcohol affects everyone differently.  The only way to be safe and avoid the consequences associated with failing a breathalyzer is to not drink and drive.

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