BETHESDA, Md., June 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer is typically a wonderful
season for outdoor activities and spending additional time with
family and friends. For some people, these activities include
drinking beverages containing alcohol. This summer, take measures
to protect your own health and that of your loved ones.
Swimmers Can Get in Over Their Heads
More drownings occur in July than in any other
month.1 Many of these deaths involve alcohol—a
recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates that 31% of all drownings involve blood alcohol
concentration (BAC) levels of 0.10% or
higher.2 Alcohol impairs judgment and increases
risk-taking, a dangerous combination for swimmers. Even experienced
swimmers may venture out farther than they should and not be able
to make it back to shore, or they may not notice how chilled
they're getting and develop hypothermia. Surfers could become
overconfident and try to ride a wave beyond their abilities. Even
around a pool, alcohol can have tragic consequences. Inebriated
divers may collide with the diving board or dive where the water is
too shallow.
Boaters Can Lose Their Bearings
The U.S. Coast Guard reports that alcohol consumption
contributes to 18% of boating deaths in which the primary cause is
known, making alcohol the leading known contributor of fatal
boating accidents.3 CDC also estimates that 27% of
deaths involving boats, jet skis, and other forms of water
transportation involve individuals with a BAC of 0.10% or
higher.2 A boat operator with a BAC of 0.08% or
higher is 14 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident
than an operator with no alcohol in their system. Reaching a 0.08%
BAC would require about four drinks in 2 hours for an average-size
woman (171 pounds) or five drinks in 2 hours for an average-size
man (198 pounds). Individual factors such as drinking on an empty
stomach may influence how quickly someone reaches a 0.08% BAC.
Individuals who have had bariatric surgery may reach 0.08% with
fewer drinks. It is important to note that the odds of a fatal
crash begin to increase with the first drink.4
In addition, according to the U.S. Coast Guard and the National
Association of State Boating Law Administrators, alcohol can impair
a boater's judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can
also increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of
cold-water immersion. If problems arise, intoxicated boaters are
ill-equipped to respond quickly and find solutions. For passengers,
intoxication can lead to slips on deck, falls overboard, or
accidents at the dock.
Drivers Can Go Off
Course
The summer holidays are some of the most dangerous times of the
year to be on the road. When on vacation, drivers may be traveling
an unfamiliar route or hauling a boat or camper, with the
distraction of pets and children in the car. Adding alcohol to the
mix puts the lives of the driver and everyone in the car, as well
as other people on the road, at risk.
Dehydration Is a Risk
Whether you're on the road or in the great outdoors, heat plus
alcohol can equal trouble. Hot summer days cause fluid loss through
perspiration, while alcohol causes fluid loss through increased
urination. Together, they can quickly lead to dehydration or heat
stroke.
Protect Your Skin
Sunburns can put a damper on summer vacations. People who drink
alcohol while celebrating in the sun are less likely to wear
sunscreen.5,6 And laboratory research suggests that
alcohol lowers the amount of sun exposure needed to produce
burns.7 This is all bad news, as repeated sunburns
increase the risk of skin cancer. Whether drinking or not, be sure
to slather on the sunscreen to maximize your summer fun!
What's in that drink, exactly?
Summer cocktails may be stronger, more caloric, and more
expensive than you realize. You may be watching what you eat so you
can fit into those summer clothes, but watching what you drink can
keep you safe. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA) alcohol calculators can help you assess
calories, drink size, alcohol spending, blood alcohol levels, and
the number of standard drinks in each cocktail.
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy
Be smart this summer—think before you drink. Avoiding
beverages containing alcohol while piloting a boat, driving a car,
exploring the wilderness, and swimming or surfing can also help
keep you and your loved ones safe.
If you're serving alcohol at a summer gathering, be sure to:
- Provide a variety of healthy foods and snacks. Food can
slow the absorption of alcohol and reduce the peak level of alcohol
in the body by about one-third. Food can also minimize stomach
irritation and gastrointestinal distress the following day.
- Offer various alcohol-free beverages—water, juices,
sparkling sodas. Alcohol-free drinks help counteract the
dehydrating effects of alcohol. Also, the other fluids may slow the
rate of alcohol absorption into the body and reduce the peak
alcohol concentration in the blood. They also provide your guests
with alternatives to alcohol.
- Help your guests get home safely—use designated drivers,
ride-hailing services, or taxis. Anyone getting behind the
wheel of a car should not have ingested any alcohol.
And if you are a parent, understand the underage drinking
laws—and set a good example.
For more information on preventing problems with alcohol this
summer, and tips on cutting back,
visit: RethinkingDrinking.niaaa.nih.gov
1 National Safety Council [Internet]. Injury
facts: preventable deaths, deaths by month. Preventable deaths by
month for select causes, 2021. [cited 2023 May 30]. Available
from: https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/preventable-death-overview/deaths-by-month
2 Alpert HR, Slater ME, Yoon Y, Chen CM, Winstanley N,
Esser MB. Alcohol consumption and 15 causes of fatal injuries: a
systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2022
Aug;63(2):286–300. Epub 2022 May 15. PubMed
PMID: 35581102
3 U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast
Guard. 2020 Recreational boating statistics. [cited 2023 May 30].
Available
from: https://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2020.pdf
4 Smith GS, Keyl PM, Hadley JA, Bartley CL, Foss RD,
Tolbert WG, McKnight J. Drinking and recreational boating
fatalities: a population-based case-control study. JAMA. 2001
Dec;286:2974–80. [cited 2023 May 30]. PubMed
PMID: 11743838
5 Rota M, Pasquali E, Bellocco R, Bagnardi V, Scotti L,
Islami F, Negri E, Boffetta P, Pelucchi C, Corrao G, La Vecchia C.
Alcohol drinking and cutaneous melanoma risk: a systematic review
and dose–risk meta-analysis. Br J Dermatol. 2014;170(5):1021-8.
PubMed PMID: 24495200
6 Mukamal KJ. Alcohol consumption and self-reported
sunburn: a cross-sectional, population-based survey. J Am Acad
Dermatol. 2006;55(4);584-9. PubMed PMID: 17010736
7 Darvin ME, Sterry W, Lademann J, Patzelt A. Alcohol
consumption decreases the protection efficiency of the antioxidant
network and increases the risk of sunburn in human skin. Skin
Pharmacol Physiol. 2012;26(1):45–51. PubMed PMID: 23147451
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SOURCE National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism