Opioid Safety: and How to Use Naloxone
A Guide for Community MEmbers
How to Identify an Opioid Overdose
Look for These Common Signs:
1. The person won’t wake up even if you shake them or say their name!
2. Breathing slows or even stops!
3. Lips and fingernails turn blue or gray!
4. Skin gets pale, clammy!
In Case of Overdose:
1. Call 911 and give naloxone
If no reaction in 3 minutes, give second naloxone dose
2. Do rescue breathing or chest compressions
Follow 911 dispatcher instructions
3. After naloxone
Stay with person for at least 3 hours or until help arrives
Quick Start Guide
Opioid Overdose Response Instructions
Use NARCAN Nasal Spray (naloxone hydrochloride) for known or suspected opioid overdose in adults and children. Important: For use in the nose only.
Do not remove or test the NALOXONE Nasal Spray until ready to use.
1
Identify Opioid Overdose and Check for Response
Ask
person if he or she is ok and shout name.
Shake
shoulders and firmly rub the middle of their chest.
CHECK for signs of an opioid overdose:
– Will not wake up or respond to your voice or touch.
– Breathing is very slow, irregular, or has stopped.
– Center part of their eye is very small, sometimes called “pinpoint pupils”.
Lay the person on their back to receive a dose of NALOXONE Nasal Spray.
2
Give NALOXONE Nasal Spray
Remove Naloxone Nasal Spray from the Box.
Peel back the tab with the circle to open the NALOXONE Nasal Spray.
Hold
the NALOXONE Nasal Spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and your first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle.
Gently insert the tip of the nozzle into either nostril.
– Tilt the person’s head back and provide support under the neck with your hand. Gently insert the tip of the nozzle into one nostril, until your fingers on either side of the nozzle are against the bottom of the person’s nose.
Press the plunger firmly to give the dose of Naloxone Nasal Spray.
– Remove the NALOXONE Nasal Spray from the nostril after giving the dose.
3
Call for Emergency Help, Evaluate, and Support
Get emergency help right away.
Move the person on their side (recovery position)
after giving NALOXONE Nasal Spray.
Watch the person closely.
If the person does not respond
by waking up, to voice or touch, or breathing normally, another does may be given. NALOXONE Nasal Spray may be dosed every 2 to 3 minutes, if available.
Repeat Step 2 using a new NALOXONE Nasal Spray to give another dose in the other nostril.
If additional NALOXONE Nasal Sprays are available, repeat step 2 every 2 to 3 minutes until the person responds or emergency medical help is received.
What is an Opioid Overdose?
Opioids can cause bad reactions that make your breathing slow or even stop. This can happen if your body can’t handle the opioids that you take that day.
To avoid an accidental opioid overdose:
Try not to mix your opioids with alcohol, benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium), or medicines that make you sleepy.
Be extra careful if you miss or change doses, feel ill, or start new medications.
Now that you have NALOXONE…
Tell someone where it is and how to use it.
Common opioids include:
| Generic | Brand Name |
|---|---|
| Hydrocodone | Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Zohydro |
| Oxycodone | Percocet, OxyContin, Roxicodone, Percodan |
| Morphine | MSContin, Kadian, Embeda, Avinza |
| Codeine | Tylenol with Codeine, TyCo, Tylenol #3 |
| Fentanyl | Duragesic |
| Hydromorphone | Dilaudid |
| Oxymorphone | Opana |
| Meperidine | Demerol |
| Methadone | Dolophine, Methadose |
For More Information:
call 211 or visit doseofrealitywi.gov
Published on May 31 2023
Categories: News