Measuring BAC

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Measuring BAC

How is blood alcohol content measured?

Let’s get the scientific part out of the way first.

In the United States, BAC is measured by dividing grams of alcohol by 100 milliliters of blood. This is then made in to a percentage. For example, in many states, the legal limit is .08%. This means that for every 100 mL of blood, there is 8 grams of alcohol in the blood stream.

This is how blood alcohol is determined if you have been pulled over for driving under the influence of alcohol. There are different chemical tests that may measure this: blood, breath and urine.

There are also physical and mental signs that come with different blood alcohol levels. However, these may vary due to how much a person normally drinks.

Typically, this is what will occur at each BAC level:

.01-.06

- Feeling of Relaxation
- Sense of Well-Being
- Thought, Judgment and Coordination are Impaired

.06-.10

- Loss of Inhibitions
- Extroversion
- Reflexes, Depth Perception, Peripheral Vision and Reasoning are Impaired

.11-.20

- Emotional Swings
- Sense of Sadness or Anger
- Reaction Time and Speech are Impaired

.21-.29

- Stupor
- Blackouts
- Motor Skills are Impaired

.30-.39

- Severe Depression
- Unconsciousness
- Breathing and Heart Rate are Impaired

>.40

- Breathing and Heart Rate are Impaired
- Death is Possible

If someone drinks often and heavily, it will often take longer to feel these effects, even though his/her health and impairment is affected the same way.

How can you tell what your blood alcohol content is?

There are calculators that will estimate what your BAC level is. However, because people’s bodies are so different, this is not always the best way to determine your level.

Home Breathalyzer kits may also seem like a good way to determine blood alcohol content. They are often inaccurate, and should not be used to determine if it is safe to drive.

The most accurate way to measure your alcohol level is to have blood drawn and analyzed by a doctor or medical professional.

Therefore, the best way to protect yourself from DUI arrests or accidents is to refrain from driving after drinking. To Learn more about driving under the influence charges, find a DUI attorney that specializes in impaired driving.

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