Blood alcohol levels in a series of injured patients with special reference to accident and type of injury.

Blood alcohol was determined in 1012 injury victims. It was found that the alcohol involvement (AI) rate was 37% in the total number of patients, 19% in industrial, 38% in traffic, 36% in home, 45% in other freetime accidents, and 69% in the victims of fights, assaults, and suicide attempts. The most common external cause of injury was falling (447 cases) with an AI rate of 38%, while the 172 other nontraffic true accident cases had a rate of 24%. The road and stairs were the usual places of falls while intoxicated. Head injuries had a high (47%) and upper extremity injuries a low (25%) AI rate. Tibial and ankle fractures were also very often associated with alcohol intake. Contrarily to traffic and industrial accidents the slightly injured at home and in other freetime environments had been drinking more frequently than the severely injured. The data suggest that alcohol is a powerful contributing factor in leisure-time injuries. Head and low leg are especially vulnerable in drunken persons. Not only driving but even when walking while intoxicated means taking risks.