Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

Staying awake for 24 hours is comparable to having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of what level?

1. 0.05

2. 0.10

3. 0.15

4. 0.20

The correct answer is: 0.10

Staying awake for 24 hours has been shown to significantly impair cognitive and motor functions, similar to the effects of alcohol consumption. Research indicates that being awake for this duration can lead to impairments that are comparable to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10. This level of BAC is often considered the threshold at which many individuals begin to experience noticeable effects on their ability to perform tasks, particularly those that require concentration and coordination, mimicking the cognitive deficits associated with chronic sleep deprivation. The level of 0.10 is particularly relevant because it aligns with legal limits for driving in many jurisdictions, marking a point where the impairments would likely be severe enough to make activities like driving dangerous and illegal. This parallel helps highlight the serious risks of both sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption in terms of their impact on performance and decision-making abilities. Hence, understanding this comparison emphasizes the need for sufficient sleep to maintain optimal performance, just as we recognize the dangers of alcohol consumption.