[Scan-DC] Re: More than you wanted to know Meaning of "ETOH"

[David]

I am by no means a medical man but I love a mystery and this was one that had always bugged me. I finally figured it out when I was working for the DC Fire (and EMS dept). They used to attach a little sensor to the trachial tube when a patient had to be intubated. It was an ETCO2 sensor and if it changed color it meant that the patient was probably exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide. The ET stood for endotrachial. 

Alcohol (in general) is a hydrocarbon in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms have been replace by the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group. If the (-OH) is attached to the ethyl (C2H5) radical then you get ethyl alcohol (CH3CH2OH) = booze.

So ETOH is endotrachial alcohol, basically "a drunk" as stated in the three prior posts. 

DP

At 04:39 PM 9/14/03 -0400, you wrote:
>Anyone know what "ETOH on board" means?  I've heard this several times on Loudoun County fire/rescue channels.  Have also heard it while listening down at Nags Head.
>
>Seems to be related to substance abuse in some fashion.
>
>Randy
>