[Alcoholemia and traumatology in S.A.M.U. 42]

This work was carried out over a year on all the wounded patients picked up by the S.A.M.U. 42. Out of 502 interpretable alcoholemic tests 353 positive tests were found (of which 222 were greater than 0.80 g.l-1). The law of July 1978 had no influence on the figures. Thursday is the day when the greatest number of positive alcohol tests were recorded. There is no significant difference between the nocturnal and diurnal results. Pedestrians had an average alcohol blood level which was higher than drivers of automobiles or two wheeled vehicles. Alcoholic excess is found especially in the rural "plain" areas. The unemployed constitute the professional category with the highest alcholemia. Women are more reasonable in their libations. Alcohol is an important factor in the clumsiness which is the origin of worksite accidents. Alcohol encourages suicide attempts. It would seem according to this work that alcoholemia is higher in the region of Saint-Etienne than the national average.