In what appears to be a new record for extreme DUI, a motorist’s blood alcohol content was measured at .77--more than nine times the legal limit--after he crashed his car following a short police chase Friday afternoon, Oregon cops report.
Highest I ever had 1st hand knowledge of was .55. The attending ER doctor wanted to know if "they've taken the body downstairs." ... to the morgue. The officer who brought the lady in told the doc. "She's over at the phone talking to her husband."
In the lab I've run hundreds, if not thousands of ETOH levels. For a kid, 0.35 can be fatal. For most of us mere mortals, a 0.55 is fatal. To get any higher takes years of practice. Like the woman on the phone, I've seen 0.55's who walk and talk just fine. As for 0.77, I would first question the calibration of the instrument. It's possible, but that is WAY out there.
When I was an ER doc, we had a "700 club" but it had a rather "exclusive" membership. Never heard of anyone this high!
ReplyDeleteA true professional drunk.
ReplyDeleteAlmost 45 years in healthcare....most of it in ER. Offhand I can't remember anyone higher than a .77 BAC.
ReplyDelete0.5 can be fatal, so...
ReplyDeleteHighest I ever had 1st hand knowledge of was .55. The attending ER doctor wanted to know if "they've taken the body downstairs." ... to the morgue. The officer who brought the lady in told the doc. "She's over at the phone talking to her husband."
ReplyDeleteAnd why isn't this a Florida Man story?!?
That's a good question.
DeleteIn the lab I've run hundreds, if not thousands of ETOH levels. For a kid, 0.35 can be fatal. For most of us mere mortals, a 0.55 is fatal. To get any higher takes years of practice. Like the woman on the phone, I've seen 0.55's who walk and talk just fine. As for 0.77, I would first question the calibration of the instrument. It's possible, but that is WAY out there.
DeleteWell done, sir. Well done.
ReplyDelete*cues up "One Shining Moment"*