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The blood alcohol content is the
amount of alcohol concentrated in the blood also
known as the BAC. It is measured in grams per
deciliter. Generally, a BAC of 0.08 g/dL or
higher is over the legal limit for operating a motor
vehicle (DUI).
In measuring if one is over the
BAC legal limit there are many variables affecting
the amount of alcohol in the blood. These
include body weight, body fat, gender, nutrition and
time since the alcohol was consumed. A single
drink my put a 100 lb. individual over the limit or
it may take five drinks for a person weighing well
over 200 lb.
The actual blood alcohol content
or concentration can be measured by taking a blood
sample and testing it in a laboratory. In the
field, law enforcement officers usually rely on a
device called a breathalyzer which estimates the BAC
by measuring the alcohol in the breath. While
not exact, it is estimated that the blood alcohol
concentration as measured by these devices is within
15% of the actual number but may vary widely from
brand to brand.
To measure the amount of
impairment in the field, law enforcement officers
will also generally administer what is called a
"roadside sobriety test" or "field sobriety test".
These tests may involve several smaller tests to
determine impairment and may include counting
backwards, walking a straight line toe to heel,
touching your index finger to your nose with your
eyes closed, standing on one leg, following a moving
finger with your eyes or others.
While a BAC of 0.08 g/dL is the
legal limit, one should not assume that driving
with lesser amounts of alcohol in the blood is as
safe as driving sober. Tests have shown that
drivers with a BAC of only 0.05 g/dL is at a four
times greater risk of being in an accident.
As blood alcohol content
approaches double the legal limit a person will
generally have a severe loss of motor control,
balance, speech, judgment, vision and may suffer
from vomiting. As the BAC approaches 0.25 g/dL
one generally will suffer from anxiety, be unable to
walk without help, become incoherent, feel little
pain from injury and is at risk of death from
asphyxiation. When a BAC of 0.40 is approached
one will generally be at risk of unconsciousness and
possible coma. The risk of death from
asphyxiation is pronounced. Even higher BAC
levels usually result in death without medical
intervention.
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