Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

Summer is a time of year when people often mix alcohol with recreational activities. This mixture can have dangerous or deadly results. Alcohol consumption slows brain reactions, leading to aggressiveness, poor judgment, and reckless movements.

Following some simple guidelines can prevent alcohol-related crashes and health problems.

• Never provide alcohol to or allow anyone under age 21 to drink alcohol. It’s against the law.
• If you drive, don’t drink; if you drink, don’t drive. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption for drivers of motorized vehicles. Do not ride with drivers who have been drinking, and do not allow them to drive anywhere. Even one drink impairs reaction time.
• Never drink and drive watercraft. Drinking and driving is as dangerous on the water as it is on land. Alcohol impairs a person’s balance and increases the chance of falling overboard. This danger, compounded by alcohol’s effects on your swimming ability, is a common cause of drowning.
• Don’t swim or dive if you’ve been drinking. Alcohol affects swallowing and breathing reflexes, both of which are necessary for swimming.
• Do not drink in hot, sunny weather. Heavy alcohol consumption can dehydrate your body, raise blood pressure, and increase odds of becoming a heat stroke victim.

For additional information, call the Genesee County Health Department’s Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Services at (810) 257-3612.