British Columbia’s opioid crisis has reached epidemic proportions and so far shows no signs of abating.
Preparing yourself to deal with someone experiencing an overdose could potentially save a life.
So, Island Health has created this guide to help you understand the basics. Once you’ve picked up your own Naloxone kit, just remember the acronym “SAVE ME“:
- S – Stimulation
Can you wake them up?
If not, call 911 - A- Airway
Make sure there’s nothing in their mouth that stops them from breathing. - V – Ventilate
Breathe for them. (Plug nose, tilt head back, and give 1 breath every 5 secs). - E – Evaluate
Are they any better? Are you trained to give naloxone? - M – Muscular Injection
Inject 1cc of naloxone into a muscle. - E – Evaluate & Support
Is the person breathing on their own? If they’re not awake in 5min, another 1cc dose is needed. Tell the person not to use any more drugs right now – wait at least 2 hours.
Click here to access the official “Overdose Survival Guide” for some more tips on how to save a life.
