Staying ‘stone cold sober’ behind the wheel

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Cloys
  • 50th Space Wing Public Affairs
5/29/2013 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo --  The choice to use or not use alcohol is a personal decision each Airman must make.

"Most of us associate the effects of drinking with driving. That message is a constant mainstay during safety briefings, commander's calls, etc.," said Master. Sgt. Sarah Law, 50th Space Wing ground safety manager. "But, what we have to remember is that alcohol can affect so many other activities, especially during the summer months when we are participating in high-risk activities, such as boating, dirt biking or riding All-Terrain Vehicles."

According to the Airman-to-Airman Safety Advisory Council, regardless of the activity, it's important to know the effects alcohol has on the body. Alcohol can impact some individuals differently than others, but there is a general guideline of what happens as Blood Alcohol Concentration levels progress.

0.02-0.03 BAC: No loss of coordination is experienced. Alcohol causes slight euphoria and loss of shyness. Depressant effects are not apparent. Drinker mildly relaxed and can become slightly lightheaded.

0.04-0.06 BAC: Alcohol causes a feeling of well-being, relaxation, lower inhibitions and a sensation of warmth. Euphoria, some minor impairment of reasoning and memory and a lower sense of caution is experienced. Behavior of the drinker may become exaggerated and emotions intensified.

0.07-0.09 BAC: Slight impairment of balance, speech, vision, reaction time, and hearing can be experienced. Judgment and self-control are reduced, and caution, reason and memory are impaired. Often drinkers feel that they are functioning better than they really are at this point.

In the state of Colorado, a 0.08 BAC is considered legally impaired. It is illegal to drive at this level. Even so, BACs between 0.05 and 0.07 can result in a diving wile abiity is impaired by alcohol or drugs offense.

0.10-0.125 BAC: Significant impairment of motor coordination and loss of good judgment occurs at this point. Speech may be slurred; balance, vision, reaction time and hearing will be impaired.

0.13-0.15 BAC: Gross motor impairment and lack of physical control is present at this level, including blurred vision and major loss of balance. Euphoria is reduced and dysphoria begins to appear. Judgment and perception are severely impaired.

0.16-0.19 BAC: Dysphoria predominates and nausea may appear. The drinker has the appearance of a "sloppy drunk."

0.20 BAC: Feeling dazed, confused or otherwise disoriented is common with this high BAC. The inebriated may need help to stand or walk. Pain from injuries may not be felt. Some people experience nausea and vomiting at this level. The gag reflex is impaired and you can choke if you do vomit. Blackouts are likely at this level.

0.25 BAC: All mental, physical and sensory functions are severely impaired. Increased risk of asphyxiation from choking on vomit and of seriously injuring one's self by falls or other accidents.

0.30 BAC: Drunken stupor. The drinker will have little comprehension of where they are and may pass out suddenly and be difficult to awaken.

0.35 BAC: Coma is possible. This is the level of surgical anesthesia.

0.40 BAC and up: Onset of coma and possible death due to respiratory arrest.

"When it comes to drinking and being familiar with the effects of BAC, the point is not to figure out what you can do at each level to determine what you can get away with. The point is to understand that alcohol is affecting you and you need to be cognizant of that." said Law. "When getting behind the wheel of a car, the idea really should be staying 'stone cold sober.' Trying to guess your BAC or just relying on how you feel isn't a good way to make sure you keep your own life and the lives of others safe. Have a plan and stick to it."

For more information, contact the 50th Space Wing Safety Office at 567-7233.