Alcohol Awareness County Durham and Darlington Fire Rescue

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Alcohol Awareness County Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service

Alcohol Awareness County Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service

Aims and objectives Aim: To raise awareness of the increased risk associated with drinking

Aims and objectives Aim: To raise awareness of the increased risk associated with drinking alcohol and fire safety. Objectives: Understand the picture in County Durham Be aware of both short and long term health effects of using alcohol To understand how the effects of drinking alcohol can impact on fire safety To be aware of recent changes to guidance around alcohol consumption Understand units and how to measure alcohol intake To be able to use AUDIT-C and offer appropriate advice Be aware of local specialist services and be able to signpost

Alcohol is more available than ever before with the balance between on and off

Alcohol is more available than ever before with the balance between on and off sales tipping in favour of off-sales. This, in turn influences home drinking where there are unlimited servings with unlimited measures. “The rate of serious injuries (from primary fires) is 4 times higher where drugs or alcohol was a contributory factor than where alcohol/drugs were not a factor. ” (DCLG, 2012 p 3)

County Durham Statistics • Between January 2010 and January 2015 there were 1, 359

County Durham Statistics • Between January 2010 and January 2015 there were 1, 359 accidental dwelling fires in County Durham and Darlington. Of these, alcohol was suspected to have contributed to the fire occurring on 10% (135) of these occasions. • County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service fatal fire statistics indicate that between 2008 and 2014 67% of those who died in fires had consumed alcohol. Of these people 35% returned blood alcohol levels within the 80% saturation limit (on or Under the drink limit). However 30% were dramatically over the driving limit. • Road Safety: There were 279 casualties from 181 collisions involving drink drivers between April 2011 and March 2013: Of these 9 were fatal.

Alcohol related Cost

Alcohol related Cost

Quiz § You can sober someone up. FALSE It is impossible to speed up

Quiz § You can sober someone up. FALSE It is impossible to speed up alcohol elimination from the body. Neither a shower, a cup of coffee or anything else will help. It just takes time.

§ Alcohol sometimes takes a while to have an effect. FALSE You may not

§ Alcohol sometimes takes a while to have an effect. FALSE You may not feel its effects straight away, but alcohol will start affecting the mind about 5 minutes after it has been swallowed. Alcoholic fizzy drinks act quicker.

§ You will get more drunk if you don’t eat before alcohol. TRUE Drinks

§ You will get more drunk if you don’t eat before alcohol. TRUE Drinks have the same alcohol unit content, so can’t make you more or less drunk. But if you drink on an empty stomach alcohol will affect you quicker than on a full stomach.

§ Cheap wine gives you a worse hangover. TRUE Some cheap wines contain methanol.

§ Cheap wine gives you a worse hangover. TRUE Some cheap wines contain methanol. When the liver breaks this compound down, it releases formic acid as a by-product. Some scientists believe this molecule is the cause of many severe hangover symptoms.

§ After a couple of drinks people around you look more attractive. TRUE Scientists

§ After a couple of drinks people around you look more attractive. TRUE Scientists have found proof of the beer-goggle effect. Researchers found that men and women who have drunk a moderate amount of alcohol find the faces of others 25% more attractive.

§ Once you’ve slept it off, you’re fine. FALSE It takes approximately one hour

§ Once you’ve slept it off, you’re fine. FALSE It takes approximately one hour for your liver to remove each unit of alcohol from your system. So if you drink heavily the evening before, you can still be over the legal driving limit the following morning. http: //www. casescanhelp. com/

Alcohol Effects “Alcohol is the 5 th biggest cause of disease, disability and death

Alcohol Effects “Alcohol is the 5 th biggest cause of disease, disability and death throughout the world” WHO 2014

Short Term Effects • • • • Confidence Contentment Intoxication Numbness Sickness Headaches Blurred

Short Term Effects • • • • Confidence Contentment Intoxication Numbness Sickness Headaches Blurred vision Loss of inhibition Loss of balance Blackouts Sleeping difficulties High blood pressure Violence / aggression • Rapid pulse • Vomiting • Diarrhoea • Inflammation of the stomach • Trembling hands • Impaired sexual performance • Menstrual disturbances • Dehydration • Depression • Anxiety

Spot the drink related hazards • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=o. Vz 0 s

Spot the drink related hazards • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=o. Vz 0 s 89 5 a. Ek

Long Term Effects • Serious memory loss • Kidney Infections • Nerve damage •

Long Term Effects • Serious memory loss • Kidney Infections • Nerve damage • Impotence • Epilepsy • Malnutrition • Hallucinations • Low Immune System • Chronic Anxiety • Infertility • Clinical depression • Pancreatitis • Cancers • Liver failure / cirrhosis • Anaemia • Weight gain • Heart failure • Diabetes • Ulcers • Dementia • Back Pain • Facial deterioration

Current Alcohol Advice The Chief Medical Officers’ evidence-based guidelines recommend: A new weekly guideline.

Current Alcohol Advice The Chief Medical Officers’ evidence-based guidelines recommend: A new weekly guideline. For men and women, you are safest not to drink regularly more than 14 units per week, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level. Alcohol free days. If you do drink as many as 14 units per week (the equivalent to half a bottle of whisky) it is best to spread this drinking over three days or more. If you have one or two heavy drinking sessions, you increase your risks of death from long term illnesses and short term accidents and injuries. No alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Women who are pregnant, or planning a pregnancy should be advised that the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all.

Units Alcohol is measured in units. A unit is defined as 10 ml or

Units Alcohol is measured in units. A unit is defined as 10 ml or 8 g of pure alcohol. All alcohol is sold with its ABV % i. e. the percentage of Alcohol by volume. e. g. Whisky at 40% contains 40% alcohol, 1 litre = 40 units. Total Volume (mls) x % ABV = Units 1000

Some real drinks and their units!!

Some real drinks and their units!!

What are some of the warning signs in the home that drinking may be

What are some of the warning signs in the home that drinking may be impacting on fire safety? • • • Empty bottles, cans lying around Person living alone Evidence of living in the one room Smoking Evidence of previous damage Candles

When is a brief intervention appropriate? • It is advisable to complete the AUDIT-C

When is a brief intervention appropriate? • It is advisable to complete the AUDIT-C screening tool before delivering a Brief Intervention to see if a referral to specialist services is more appropriate • Obtain consent before asking the alcohol questions • Use a non-confrontational manner • Do not use if the person is intoxicated • Tell the person what you are doing and why • Discuss confidentiality • Acknowledge a low score (positive reinforcement)

AUDIT - C

AUDIT - C

The AUDIT-C Score (0 -12) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The AUDIT-C Score (0 -12) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Non Drinker Sensible Drinking Lower Risk Hazardous Drinking Harmful Drinking Potentially Increasing Risk Higher Risk Addicted / Dependant

Interpreting Scores • 0 – 4 Lower Risk: No action required • 5 –

Interpreting Scores • 0 – 4 Lower Risk: No action required • 5 – 7 Increasing Risk: Brief Intervention • 8 – 10 Higher Risk: Brief Intervention (seek advice from specialist services) • 11 – 12 Possible Dependence: Contact specialist service / referral Any score over 5 suggests need for further action. If you have any concerns about someone’s drinking contact your treatment centre for advice. DO NOT ADVISE ANYONE WHO MAY BE ALCOHOL DEPENDENT TO STOP DRINKING. ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL CAN BE FATAL.

Brief Interventions • Brief interventions aim to identify current or potential problems with substance

Brief Interventions • Brief interventions aim to identify current or potential problems with substance use and motivate those at risk to change their substance use behaviour • They can range from a 5 minute piece of brief advice to a 30 minute activity or a series of interventions or activities • As well as helping the person address their possible issues they may help to engage people into specialist services

Examples of Brief interventions: • • • “Swap your usual for. . . A

Examples of Brief interventions: • • • “Swap your usual for. . . A smaller drink A lower strength drink A soft drink A later drink A meal time only drink” • • “Drink to relax? Try. . . Exercise Pamper time Music, movies, books Use the money saved to do something new”

Harm Reduction Advice • Reducing Fire Hazard • Buy a takeaway instead of cooking

Harm Reduction Advice • Reducing Fire Hazard • Buy a takeaway instead of cooking when you get home! • Don’t light candles • Regular smoke alarm checks • Smoking outside of the home instead of in • Go upstairs to bed • Alcohol Harm Reduction • ICE number in mobile phone • Pre book and pay for a taxi home • Alternate between alcohol and soft drinks • Switch to a lower strength • Leave the car at home

Contacting Services • There is one telephone number which puts you through to the

Contacting Services • There is one telephone number which puts you through to the area you require. • 03000 266 666 Option 1: Eden House, Consett, DH 8 5 RL Option 2: Centre for Change, Durham, DH 1 3 BQ Option 3: 7 Church Street, Seaham, SR 7 7 EJ Option 4: Ridgemount House, Peterlee, SR 8 1 EA Option 5: Castlebridge, Bishop Auckland, DL 14 7 PB Option 6: Thames House, Newton Aycliffe, DL 5 4 SB • The service covers both alcohol and drug misuse for adults and under 18 s.

References • Safe Durham Partnership: Reframing alcohol: Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2015 -2020 •

References • Safe Durham Partnership: Reframing alcohol: Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2015 -2020 • World Health Organisation 2014 • London Fire Brigade & Fire. Angel 4 Safety • http: //www. casescanhelp. com/ • Balance 2015 The Cost of Alcohol in County Durham Local Authority (2013 -14) • Department of Health: UK Chief Medical Officer’s Alcohol Guidelines Review January 2016