This Fact Sheet looks at the problem of alcohol and accidents drawing together the main statistics in this area. Honkanen points out that the alcohol consumption patterns of a population are reflected in injury patterns. Alcohol may induce swimmers to stay in cold water too long, by creating a false sense of warmth. Alcohol may also increase the risk of caloric labyrinthitis, a condition which may cause a person suddenly thrown into the water to swim down, rather than up. At this level of intoxication, people also experience divided attention performance, visual acuity and adaptation to brightness and glare, all of which contribute to falls.
Intoxication can heighten disorientation and impede escape.
However, impairment to driving ability occurs long before this limit is reached. The tendency to take risks is increased. Reactions are slower and concentration span is shorter. It can interfere with the normal, vasoconstriction response to shock and with the cough reflex, increasing the likelihood of suffocation from respiratory obstruction. Alcohol may also provoke arrhythmias.