Give The Gift Of Safety With A Portable Breathalyzer

Having a personal breathalyzer is a great start on learning about alcohol consumption and the effects it has on your body. It’s also a great way to become a responsible drinker. Of course, using it properly and getting the most from it are two very important factors to help you accomplish all that good stuff.

So how should you use your personal or professional breathalyzer?

Well, for starters, always wait 20 minutes from the last sip of alcohol (or the last bite of food as well) before testing. Rinse your mouth with water too. This will assure that your sample will be a deep lung one and not just laced with surface alcohol in the mouth or trachea. Blood alcohol content (BAC) is measured by the sensors which get their measurement from the air deep in the lungs. Any residual alcohol will give an erroneous result.
　
Next turn on your breathalyzer and wait until it lets you know it’s “ready.” Then take a breath in and slowly begin to exhale as you move toward the mouthpiece. Put your lips around the mouthpiece and continue a slow steady blow for 5 seconds. At that point your alcohol tester will indicate whether or not the sample was adequate and whether or not you should stop blowing. Once your test is complete, you’ll have your results immediately.

Now that you know how to perform your test properly, it’s important that you maintain your alcohol tester as required by the manufacturer. Over time your device will need to be calibrated. What this means is that the unit will need it’s accuracy adjusted. Think of this as winding a clock. As time passes, your clock will slowly drift and eventually, without resetting and rewinding, could become quite a bit off-time. Your portable breathalyzer will need calibration at least annually. Fuel cell sensors, as found in professional breathalyzer devices will need less calibrations than semiconductor models. Calibration is done by the manufacturer. The device is returned and calibrated and shipped back to you. This process usually takes about 7-10 days and costs approximately $30.

If you keep your alcohol tester properly maintained and follow manufacturer’s instructions on how often to send it in for calibration, it will remain accurate for years. If you perform your tests properly, you will find that your device is simple to use and is one of the most valuable pieces of technology you’ll ever own. The next time you have to give someone close to you a gift, consider giving them the gift of safety!