LIMA, OHIO (WLIO) - How are you going to ring in 2025? Doctors say if it is with alcohol, it’s best to leave the driving to someone else.
Emergency rooms, like at Lima Memorial Health System, see the effects firsthand of the decision to drive after drinking at bars or parties.
New Year’s Eve is one of the deadliest nights for drunk driving. Emergency rooms, like at Lima Memorial Health System, see the effects firsthand of the decision to drive after drinking at bars or parties. Doctors are urging people to get a designated driver to make sure you or someone else doesn’t start the year off with a visit to the E.R.
“Even without the holidays, we see a lot of alcohol-related accidents; about every 30 minutes to 40 minutes in the United States, someone is killed by drunk driving, and that’s about 37 people a day on average, and that was from 2022,” says Dr. Brandon Colvin, M.D., General Surgeon, Lima Memorial Health System.
In Ohio, the Blood Alcohol Content Limit is .08 or higher to be charged with impaired driving. But Dr. Colvin says even those who are lower than that amount can feel the effects of alcohol.
“But we see serious impairment before that number. So, there is a lot of people that could legally could get away with drinking and driving, but they already have impaired reflexes, impaired motor capabilities, and overall just poor judgment. That starts happening around .02 to .05. (Blood Alcohol Content),” adds Dr. Colvin.
Colvin also suggests putting your phone down when you are driving and focusing on the road to avoid potential crashes in your future.
