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Nothing beats the chill-out flavour of summer gatherings, where the night air is warm, feet wriggle out of shoes and coolers overflow with delicious drinks. But while Canadians love to enhance our good weather with drops of good cheer, alcohol safety is so easily forgotten by that third tasty margarita on the patio . . . or was it the fourth?
While most people understand the dangers of drinking and driving and will choose a designated driver or spend the night, alcohol can also rear its ugly head in a number of other harmful outlets. Statistics released by the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) show that alcohol was responsible for one-third of all traumatic injuries resulting in hospitalization in Ontario for 2000-2001. These injuries include falls, assaults, homicides, suicides and other bodily harm such as burns.
Although the percentage of alcohol-related trauma varies from province to province, Margaret Keresteci, manager of clinical registries for the CIHI, says one consistent variable across the country is that youth aged 10 to 24 represent the largest proportion of traumatically injured people due to alcohol every year. "Youths are highly represented here because when you mix alcohol and youth there is a propensity for more risk taken," she said, adding that homicide and intentional injury follow the same trends as motor-vehicle accidents, with mostly youth involved.
While the young are particularly at risk for hurting themselves while drinking, CIHI's 2002-2003 statistics for Canada show a 28 per cent increase from 2000-2001 data in alcohol-related traumatic injury among 45 to 54-year-olds. This group also has the highest concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream when admitted to hospital (averaging double the legal limit) and is the most susceptible to major falls resulting in hospitalization.
But there are ways to drink and live to tell the tale. These tips from the Canada Safety Council will help you and your guests celebrate summer all the way into Labour Day.
Hosting a party? Read The responsible host's guide to good cheer.
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