• Person is passed out and you
cannot wake them up.
• Breathing very slow, making
gurgling sounds, or not breathing
at all.
• Lips are blue or grayish color.
• Shake them and shout to wake
them up.
• If no response, grind your
knuckles into their chest bone for
5-10 seconds.
• If the person still does not
respond, call 911.
• Tell the 911 dispatcher, “I think
someone has overdosed!”
• If you report an overdose, you
and the overdosed person have
significant protections under the
New York State Law from being
charged with drug possession,
even if you shared drugs.
How to give Narcan
®
Nasal Spray
• Take Narcan® Nasal Spray out
of box.
• Peel back tab with the circle to
open the Narcan® Nasal Spray.
IMPORTANT: Do not remove
Narcan® until ready to use and
do NOT test the device.
• Hold the Narcan® Nasal Spray
with your thumb on the bottom of
the plunger and your first and
middle fingers on either side of
the nozzle.
• Tilt the person’s head back and
provide support under the neck
with your hand.
How to use Narcan
®
Nasal Spray for an opioid overdose
• 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 Narcan® Nasal Spray.
Remove the Narcan® Nasal Spray
from the nostril after giving the dose.
If the person is not breathing, do rescue breathing (or CPR if you know it)
KNOW THE SIGNS OF OVERDOSE CHECK FOR A RESPONSE
CALL 911
•
Wait and watch the person closely.
• If the person does not respond in
2-mins, repeat the steps and give
the second dose of Narcan®
Nasal Spray in box.
• Call 911 right away, if you have
not done so already.
• Roll the person on their side and
place them in the ‘recovery
position’.
Tilt the head back, lift the chin, and
pinch the nose.
Start with two breaths into the
mouth. Continue with one breath
every 5 seconds.
The person’s chest should rise and
fall with each breath; if not, check to
make sure the head is tilted back and
the mouth is clear.
Keep doing rescue breathing until
the person breathes on their own or
until medical help arrives.
• When the person wakes up, explain what happened. Tell them not to take any more
drugs because that could cause another overdose.
• Naloxone, the medicine in Narcan
®
, wears o in 30 to 90 minutes. Stay with the person
until they go to the hospital, or until the naloxone wears o, to make sure they do not
overdose again.
• If you do not seek medical care, stay with the person for at least 3 hours and watch for
signs of returning overdose. Call 911 if the person is not OK when they wake up.
• When the ambulance arrives, tell them that naloxone has been given.
• If you need to leave, turn the person on their side (recovery position) to prevent them
from choking.
• Go back to the program that trained you or to a pharmacy, tell them you used the kit and
get more naloxone.
Rescue breathing steps
Department
of Health
12028 7/17
Caring for someone after you give Narcan
®
•
New York State Department of Health, AIDS Institute, Opioid Overdose Initiative:
1-800-692-8528, www.health.ny.gov/overdose
•
New York State Oce of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS):
877-8-HOPENY (877-846-7369), www.oasas.ny.gov
•
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Well:
1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355), text “WELL” to 65173, https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us
•
Harm Reduction Coalition:
www.harmreduction.org/our-work/overdose-prevention
Resources