7 Opioid Overdose and Emergency Response Free Online FlashCards

Why can an opioid overdose become life-threatening?

Opioids can suppress the brain’s drive to breathe, causing dangerously slow, shallow, irregular, or absent breathing.

What signs may indicate an opioid overdose?

Warning signs include being difficult or impossible to wake, a limp body, choking or gurgling sounds, abnormal breathing, and pale, grayish, bluish, or clammy skin.

Do normal-looking pupils rule out opioid overdose?

No. Pinpoint pupils may occur, but their absence does not rule out an opioid overdose.

What should you do if you suspect an overdose but do not know the substance?

Treat it as an emergency. Call 911 and respond to the person’s symptoms even if you do not know what substance they took.

What is the first safety step at a suspected overdose scene?

Check that the scene is safe. Do not handle unknown powders, drugs, or needles; call emergency services if the scene is unsafe.

When should you call 911 during a suspected overdose?

Call 911, give the location, and say the person is unresponsive and may be overdosing. Do not wait to see whether naloxone works before calling.

What should you do with naloxone if it is available?

Give naloxone if available, following the specific product’s instructions.

When may another naloxone dose be given?

If the person does not respond or still has breathing problems, give another dose after 2–3 minutes if available, following product and dispatcher instructions.

How should you respond if the person is not breathing normally?

If the person is not breathing normally, provide rescue breathing or CPR if trained, and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.

How should you position a breathing person after a suspected overdose?

If they are breathing, place them on their side to help prevent choking.

How does naloxone help during an opioid overdose?

Naloxone temporarily blocks opioid effects and can restore breathing.

Why is medical assessment needed after naloxone appears to work?

Naloxone may wear off before the opioid does, so breathing problems can return. Emergency medical assessment is necessary even if the person seems better.