General
etoh
What does etoh mean?
Chemistry abbreviation for ethanol (ethyl alcohol, EtOH) that crews and ER staff use as polite chart code for 'this patient is hammered'. Shows up in run sheets as '+ETOH', 'ETOH on board', or 'smells of ETOH' — same information as 'drunk', sterilised for the legal record. Pronounced 'ee-toe' or spelled out.
"Pt found supine on pavement, GCS 13, strong ETOH on breath, no obvious trauma."
Origin
Standard chemistry notation (Et = ethyl, OH = hydroxyl) borrowed by medical charting for diplomatic shorthand.
Frequently asked questions
Why not just write 'drunk'?
Charts are legal documents. 'ETOH on breath' is an observation; 'drunk' is a diagnosis you can't make without a blood level.
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