Preventing alcohol poisoning

The end of the year is often associated with year-end summaries, celebrations, and gatherings, where alcoholic beverages become an indispensable part of the event. However, the abuse of alcoholic drinks or the use of products of unknown origin poses a high risk of poisoning, leading to serious health consequences.

Health station staff in Chiềng Khoong commune are educating the public on preventing and combating alcohol poisoning.

For over a month now, Van Ho Regional General Hospital has received many cases of alcohol poisoning, with no cases progressing to a severe stage or resulting in death. The majority of cases are young adults. Dr. Ha Khac Huy, Deputy Head of the Emergency, Intensive Care, and Toxicology Department at Van Ho Regional General Hospital, said: "Most patients are admitted in a conscious state but with a strong smell of alcohol, fatigue, and frequent vomiting. The hospital provides outpatient treatment, monitoring, intravenous fluids, and measures to increase elimination and reduce secretion. After 2 to 4 hours, the patients stabilize and are discharged."

According to Dr. Huy, alcohol poisoning manifests in varying degrees. Mild cases may present with symptoms such as inability to control emotions, irritability, anger, and unsteadiness. Severe cases may involve excessive vomiting, sweating, coma, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, and hypotension, potentially leading to death if not treated promptly. Alcohol poisoning occurs when consuming more than the body can handle, even with alcoholic products that have been certified as safe for consumption.

According to the health sector, the number of emergency cases related to alcohol tends to increase towards the end of the year. The main reasons stem from excessive drinking in a short period, continuous drinking over several days, or the use of homemade or unregulated alcoholic beverages that have not undergone quality control. Many cases initially appear as mild drunkenness but quickly develop into alcohol poisoning, requiring emergency hospitalization.

Currently, within the province, there are 2 industrial alcohol production units licensed by the Department of Industry and Trade and over 100 licensed artisanal alcohol producers and households selling alcohol at retail. In addition, many households still brew alcohol using traditional methods with high alcohol content for family consumption or sale to the public, especially in remote, mountainous, and border areas. Furthermore, some households still infuse alcohol with herbs such as ginseng, Polygonum multiflorum, unripe bananas, or even animal parts. Therefore, there is a high risk of alcohol poisoning when consumed improperly or in incorrect dosages.

Health workers at Ngoc Chien commune health station conduct health checks for local residents.

Mr. Tran Thanh Son, Deputy Head of the Food Safety Sub-Department, said: "During the end of the year, the Sub-Department actively participates in inter-agency inspection teams on food safety assurance, especially monitoring and promptly preventing the circulation of unsafe, unlabeled, and unregulated alcoholic beverages on the market. At the same time, we disseminate information through mass media about the harmful effects of using unsafe alcohol. In addition, we coordinate the dissemination of information and education to the public on food safety knowledge and measures to prevent and combat alcohol poisoning, raising awareness and changing behaviors and habits regarding the selection and use of food with unclear origins, labels, and sources."

The health sector advises that to prevent alcohol poisoning, consumers should follow basic principles such as: Do not drink alcohol containing methanol; do not drink alcohol with an alcohol content of 30 degrees or higher exceeding 30ml/person/day; do not drink alcohol infused with leaves, roots, or animals of unknown toxicity; do not drink alcohol without a clear origin or alcohol without declared quality standards; do not drink alcohol when hungry, tired, or while taking medication; children under 16 years old should not drink alcohol or beer...

With the year-end and Lunar New Year approaching, everyone needs to raise awareness about alcohol consumption to ensure their health and prevent poisoning. If you see a victim showing signs of alcohol poisoning, take them immediately to a medical facility for monitoring and timely treatment.

Preventing alcohol poisoning is a civilized, safe, and responsible way to celebrate Tet. Each person drinks alcohol in moderation, and each family says no to low-quality alcohol, contributing to minimizing unfortunate risks and ensuring that the Lunar New Year truly is a good start to the new year.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/suc-khoe/phong-ngua-ngo-doc-ruou-lMxdTdDDg.html