The summer months bring so many great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and bask in the beauty if the season. At the same time, though, summer poses a real challenge for people who are newly sober or looking to explore a sober lifestyle. People who enjoy alcohol may be used to drinking at the pool, the beach, the park, or during any simple summer activity.
Although people who drink always have to mindful of how much they are drinking, it is especially critical to be careful during the summer months. This article will explain why drinking in the sun could be problematic, and what you can do to avoid alcohol heat stroke, drowning, and other dangerous outcomes.
Alcohol in the Sun and Dehydration
Alcohol is a natural diuretic. This means that it causes the drinker to urinate often and lose bodily fluids (more than it provides fluid). Water, on the other hand, hydrates the body more than it causes the person to urinate, helping the body stay hydrated.
Because alcohol is a diuretic, it quickly dehydrates the body. This can be very dangerous when one is outside and exposed to the sun. When in the sun, our body temperature rises, and we need a lot of fluids to keep our body temperature down. It’s very hard to stay hydrated when drinking alcohol, since alcohol effectively and quickly dehydrates the body.
People who overdrink alcohol also vomit more easily since alcohol messes with the stomach. Vomiting causes the drinker to lose even more fluids, leaving them at an even greater risk of dehydration. It’s best not to drink any alcohol in the heat at all, but if you do, be sure to counteract the alcohol with lots of water.
Alcohol and the sun causing heat stroke
When you’re in the sun and your body temperature rises, you begin to sweat. Sweating is essential since it helps the body cool down internally. Of course, perspiration is created through the fluids that you drink, so if you’re drinking a lot of alcohol in the sun, you may not have enough fluids to let your body sweat and cool down.
This inability to regulate body temperature in the heat can be very dangerous. In fact, when the body cannot perspire and cool down, it can overheat and experience heat stroke. Untreated heat stroke can quickly become dangerous, ultimately damaging the heart, brain, kidneys, and muscles.
The danger of heat stroke and alcohol:
It’s important to note that heat stroke can cause symptoms that mimic intoxication. For example, both conditions can cause slurred speech, delirium, nausea and vomiting, increased heart rate, confusion, and agitation.
Because the symptoms of the two conditions are so similar, people might mistakenly think that the person drinking alcohol has simply become drunk, instead of realizing that the person is suffering from heat stroke. This can be very dangerous, as untreated heat stroke can be fatal.
Alcohol can cause sunburn:
If you’re out suntanning and enjoying the warmth on your face and body while drinking alcohol, you may be unable to realize whether or not you need to move out of the sun to protect your skin. You may forget to apply suntan lotion, fall asleep for a long while in direct sunlight (if heavily intoxicated), and be unaware that your skin is slowly roasting.
Sunburn isn’t simply an annoying and painful burn on the skin. It can lead to skin cancer and other dangerous diseases, leaving an irreversible mark on the skin and body. It’s always advised to apply suntan lotion regularly and monitor the amount of time that you’re in direct sunlight, both of which may be difficult to do if you’re drunk.
Dangers of boating while drinking:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one third of all deaths caused by a boating collision involved alcohol use. Alcohol impairs your judgement, coordination , mobility, reaction time, and other imperative executive functioning skills that allow you to safely navigate a boat at sea.
This can cause boat collisions, people to fall overboard and drown, and other boat-related accidents. If you want to have a party on a boat, or simply have some booze as you chill, ensure that the person driving the boat won’t drink at all.
Drowning and alcohol consumption:
Summer drinking has proven to have another devastating outcome- drowning. When under the effects of alcohol, drinkers have a hard time with coordination, clarity, and judging distances.
They may be disoriented, unable to assess which part of the water is safe, and how far a certain spot in the distance actually is. Additionally, alcohol can inhibit your natural gag reflex, which normally allows you to expel water from your mouth, ensuring it doesn’t enter your lungs.
A person who is intoxicated and enters the water under those conditions may find themselves in trouble quickly. According to the BMJ Journal, alcohol is detected in the blood of 30%- 70% of people who drown while engaging in recreational aquatic activity, highlighting the danger of entering the water while drinking.
Drinking and driving:
Another obvious danger of drinking is getting behind the wheel while under the influence. The data shows that car accidents involving drunk drivers are more common during the summer months. This is thanks to the longer summer weekends and increased travel volume to different summer vacation destinations.
In the summer, many people find themselves driving more on trips and on vacations, which means that they’re traveling down unfamiliar roads. Doing so while intoxicated is infinitely more dangerous, and can lead to irreversibly fatal repercussions.
Tips for staying safe with summer drinking:
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink while out in the sun.
- Always drink lots of water to counteract the damage the alcohol causes.
- Never drink and drive- either a boat or a car. Have someone responsible who will take away your keys if you attempt to drink while under the influence.
- Plan a ride home in advance if you know you’ll be drinking. Know the public transportation schedules, keep the number of a taxi service, or have a designated driver.
- Never attempt to swim or enter the water if you’ve consumed any amount of alcohol.
- Regularly apply suntan lotion, sit in the shade as much as possible, and wear a hat when sitting outdoors.
Conclusion:
Summertime brings so many wonderful opportunities for outdoor fun and socializing. With the proper care, awareness, and advance planning, you can have a great time while avoiding the dangers that come with summer drinking.
If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, please reach out today for help. Addiction makes people entirely incapable of abstaining from substances for any meaningful amount of time, despite a strong desire and the many negative repercussions it brings.
At Avenues Recovery Center, we can help you reclaim your freedom and serenity by helping you get sober for the long term. Reach out today to find your way home!