Ma'am, ma'am, are you alright? Ma'am, ma'am, are you OK? There's no response. Go ahead
and we're going to call a code or, "You in the plaid shirt, go call 9-1-1, get an AED
and bring it back." I'm going to assess the pulse, I'm checking for any normal signs of
breathing. Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't see any breathing. Speaker 1: She has a good pulse
but she's not breathing. Speaker 2: Yeah, okay. Speaker 1: Go ahead and provide ventilations,
please. Speaker 2: Okay. Speaker 1: I'm going to get the Naloxone kit prepared, because
I do believe this is an opioid, or opiate overdose. Speaker 2: Okay. Speaker 1: Okay,
I'm ready any time you're ready there. Speaker 2: Okay, one more breath and go ahead. Speaker
1: I'm going to go ahead and provide one milliliter, the left nostril, same for the other nostril.
Go ahead and continue breathing. Speaker 2: Okay. Speaker 1: Good. Looks like she still
has a pretty good pulse there. Speaker 2: Yeah. Speaker 1: Breaths are going in well.
Speaker 2: It kind of looks like she's starting to take breaths on her own now. Speaker 1:
Is she? Okay. Speaker 2: Yeah, it's kind of fight- oh. Speaker 1: Oh, ma'am, it's okay
ma'am, ma'am, it's okay. We're here to help. It's okay. Speaker 2: We're going to take
good care of you, ma'am. Just try to relax. Opiates and opioids are central nervous system
or CNS depressants. The CNS controls our ability to breath and keep our heart beating, and
when depressed too far by CNS depressants, these functions can slow down and eventually
stop. Most people think that only addicts and illegal drug users can overdose on opiates
or opioids, and it is true that most people who are addicted suffer the most overdoses.
However, anyone taking them can suffer opiate or opioid overdose, especially when they take
more than was prescribed by the doctor, or they combine opiates and opioids with other
CNS depressants, or they have an unknown condition that makes them mores sensitive to overdose.
A few common common opiates and opioids include heroin, morphine, codeine, methodone, hydrocodone
(known as Vicodin or Lortab) and oxycodone (otherwise known as Percocet). Common drugs
that may cause similar signs but are not opioids or opiates are cocaine, LSD, ecstasy, tranquilizers,
and marijuana. Naloxone will have no real effect on non-opioid or opiate drugs. And,
while you can't be certain of an opiate or opioid overdose, some signs should make you
suspect that there's a problem, like bottles of drugs nearby the patient, or a very slow
respiratory rate, or even pinpoint pupils. For a patient with known or suspected opioid
addiction, appropriately trained rescuers or healthcare providers should administer
intramuscular or intranasal Naloxone, if available, per their protocol. A Naloxone dose of two
milligrams is what's recommended for rapid reversal when respiratory compromise is present.
Naloxone typically takes three to five minutes for the full effect. The duration of action
for Naloxone is shorter than that of most opioids, so patients must be closely monitored
for re-occurence of problems when the effects of the Naloxone wear off. Additional doses
may be necessary to maintain reversal. It's been recommended that patients who receive
Naloxone are still observed for a minimum of two hours after the last dose. And, in
the case of a person who you suspect has an opiate or opioid overdose, that is not breathing
normally, lay-rescuers should start CPR and a healthcare provider should check for a pulse
to determine whether or not to start rescue breathing or full CPR. To administer Naloxone,
assemble the nasal atomizer, tilt the head back and briskly spray half of the Naloxone
up one side of the nose, that of about 1 cc, and half up the other side of the nose, which
will equal 1 cc. The idea is to atomize the Naloxone in to a fine mist. Rescue breathing
or CPR should continue while waiting for the Naloxone to take effect. If there's no change
in three to five minutes, administer another dose of Naloxone and continue CPR or rescue
breathing. If the second dose of Naloxone doesn't revive them, something else is wrong.
Either there are no opioids in their system, or the opioids are unusually strong and require
more Naloxone.