Highest BAL?

Nurses General Nursing

Updated:   Published

Hey everyone, I currently work in the psychiatric area of the emergency department. Of course we get quite a variety of patients, from suicidal to homicidal to hallucinating to self-injurious. I see a lot of patients with diagnosed mental disorders who are either on prescribed medication (on the correct dose or "deciding dosage" themselves), self-medicate with legal or illegal substances, or a combination of both. I have had quite a few patients who I suspected or knew had been drinking, but was amazed to find out what their blood alcohol levels were! Just in the last few weeks we've had a few folks at .042 .42 and one at .047 .47. These people were emotional and clearly having issues, but able to speak clearly, move around, etc.

So, what's the highest BAL you've seen?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Did you mean 0.472 ? Around here the measurement to be legally drunk is .08

MBAs in the .300's are fairly common, the other night was a .464 When I first started in the ER, one of my first ones was well over .5 He came in totally limp but maintaining his own airway, and walked out steady and talking to protective custody in less than 6hours.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

I think you added an extra 0 in there. We frequently see pts with >.300 walking, talking etc. Many of these pts start DT's <.200>

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Did you mean 0.472 ?

hahah! Whoops. Yes, one of them was a .42 and the other was a .47. I can't imagine what kind of drinking it would take to reach that type of a level.......:eek:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

we had a girl, 15 or 16, admitted, intubated to PICU for a BAL >.60 , and I've seen DT's with a BAL in the 0.20 range also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
we had a girl, 15 or 16, admitted, intubated to PICU for a BAL >.60 , and I've seen DT's with a BAL in the 0.20 range also.

Wow....I was about to ask what kind of condition she was in, but I think "intubated" pretty much covers it. Scary stuff....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

0.672...15 years old, her first experience with alcohol. She ended up tubed and vented and got a chopper ride to Denver. Fours years later she still has some problems with fine motor skills...she can't pick up small objects like coins or M&Ms.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Had a new high BAC (for me) here last week...a pt who is a "frequent flier" came in with a 0.53. Wowza!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Trauma.

888 (not kidding).

Dood walked in @ 0730 am (not kidding either).

Chief complaint? "I feel sick to my stomach" (you don't say :icon_roll)

cheers,

Up Vote Up Vote ×

0.7. He was the cause of an MVA

Up Vote Up Vote ×

0.952, found down, recovered fine.

I've heard stories as high as 1.5's but can't independently verify.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

0.548 -- walking & talking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment